Katie Baker's Internship Paid off with a Job in Oprah's Radio Department

Upon attending Columbia College, Katherine Baker had big plans on pursuing her voice-over talent career.  Her plans were quickly altered after getting involved in Columbia's Radio program where she became very interested in radio business. "Originally I came to Columbia because I wanted to do voice-over's and then after taking classes I realized radio production was more what I wanted to do with my life, and how I wanted to express myself,” says Baker.
 
She served as a student ambassador for the Radio department's Open House last fall.  She's also worked as a teacher's assistant for Columbia's Production and Interviewing courses and as a studio time assistant for the department.  "Radio seemed like a great way to use my voice and be creative in an environment that's always changing," says Baker.
 
Trying to make the most of her time at Columbia, Katie completed two internships while in school.  The first internship was at a commercial voice-over agency and the second one at Harpo Radio. (She was the first Columbia student to score an internship at the station!)
 
"After talking to everyone at my internship, the one thing they remembered about me was my smile. I went in with a positive attitude, and made it clear that I was ready to learn. I feel like I also had some added confidence because I knew the Radio department had my back," says Baker.
 
Katie also worked at WCRX for two semesters as a production assistant and producer for a weekly arts program.  Her production work has also contributed to the radio station's overall public service commitment to the community and the 2008 Service to America College Radio Award from the National Association of Broadcasters.
 
Working at Harpo Radio has given Katie the perfect opportunity to jump-start her career. As of May 2008, she has been hired as a full-time production assistant researching show topics, screening listener phone calls, and editing segments for on-air.  While completing her internship, a production assistant job became available and she took her chance, hoping her previous hard work would pay off. She landed the job and is hoping to stay as long as they'd like her too, with the goal of becoming a producer in the future.
 
Katie believes that everyone should make the most out of the opportunities they have. "Internships are so incredibly important, almost as much as the attitude that you have.” she said. Her best advice? “Be professional and have a great attitude.”

-Liz Olszta