WDET’s many hands-on internships help launch careers in media, communications
As seven interns wrap up a rewarding semester at WDET-FM 101.9, their eyes are set on the future.
Two of the station’s current interns, Jose Llanas and Lauren Myers, look forward to extending their time at the station through the summer.
“I come into work at WDET excited every day,” said Llanas, a recent Wayne State graduate with a degree in music technology and a WDET audio production intern. “The people here are really supportive, and I feel more like a staff member than an intern.”
When WDET’s ownership transferred from the United Auto Workers to Wayne State University in 1952, there was one condition: that the station continue to use its broadcasting license to serve the public. One way that WDET has continued to do this is through providing extensive learning opportunities for students and recent graduates. WDET’s paid learning opportunities provide hands-on, holistic experiences that educate and prepare the next generation of media professionals.
Each semester, WDET welcomes a new cohort of interns. With more than 22 different internship opportunities, the program attracts students from across the campus community — and beyond. From assistant producers to reporters, marketing to music, podcasting to business operations, and even more in between, there’s no shortage of opportunities.
Current Wayne State students and recent graduates often join the program from the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, but WDET works with — and continues to expand its partnerships with — other schools and colleges, such as the Mike Ilitch School of Business, the Irvin D. Reid Honors College, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Support for interns comes in a variety of ways, including coaching and professional development workshops. Each intern is assigned a coach who works collaboratively with the student to help them establish and work toward identified goals, answer questions, and offer constructive feedback. In addition, they are required to attend professional development workshops on subjects such as voicing and financial literacy. Interns at the studio get hands-on experience and have the chance to meet notable visitors. Both Llanas and Myers recalled meeting Tonya Mosley, co-host of NPR’s Fresh Air.
Myers, a sophomore broadcast journalism student at Wayne State, is a production assistant for The Metro, a live show at WDET. She said the internship has helped expand her idea of what she could do in journalism.
“I always thought of journalism as writing and reporting the news, but now that I’ve gotten to try producing, I can really see myself doing this. I want to be a producer now,” Myers said. “I feel like I really have gotten to build the foundational skills to launch my career. I know how to do it, to set it up, to produce.”
As a production assistant, Myers greets and manages guests who come on the show, sets up their microphones, monitors the audio quality and sits in the main control room during the show to assist with the interviews. She even has had the opportunity to produce her own segment on fashion and culture in Detroit.
Llanas, who connected with WDET after submitting his WSU senior project to NPR’s College Podcast Challenge, has had similar hands-on experiences. Working with musicians who perform at the station, Llanas sets up their microphones and audio, monitors the quality, and helps film live performances. Like Myers, Llanas has grown his technical skillset as well as his professionalism.
“The goal is to build a total professional,” said Diane Sanders, WDET’s manager of strategic initiatives and director of the internship program. “We help them learn a technical skill set as well as ethics, cultural awareness, networking and other skills to support their professional development.”
This holistic, hands-on approach makes WDET’s program stand out," said Mary Zatina, general manager of WDET. “WDET has a strong and powerful reputation locally and nationally. When a young person is able to show a WDET experience on their resume, it opens doors for them and gives them a leg up on the career of their dreams.”
Many of WDET’s interns have gone on to find fulfilling careers in media, working in the industry across the country for outlets such as ESPN, WDIV, Washington State University, the City of Detroit and more.
“Wayne State is committed to providing career-engaged learning experiences for every student through our College to Career initiative,” said Laurie M. Lauzon Clabo, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “WDET serves as a prime example of the breadth of career learning opportunities Wayne State offers to students, as well as our recent graduates, to set them on a path toward a lifelong career.”
One of the station’s past interns has continued to grow his career within the Wayne State community. Patrick Bernas, once a production assistant at WDET, now works as an information officer at the Mike Ilitch School of Business. Bernas, who graduated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, credits WDET with helping him launch his career during a challenging time.
“My experience at WDET really pushed me out of my comfort zone to learn new skills, especially in interviewing, and those are skills I still use to this day,” said Bernas. “It was a fantastic, formative experience that brought me to the career I have now.”
WDET’s summer internship kicks off on May 5. Students and recent graduates who are interested in WDET’s learning opportunities can apply online for the fall 2025 cohort. Applications are due June 1. Schools, colleges and departments that are interested in partnering with WDET for College to Career opportunities should contact Diane Sanders at diane.sanders@wdet.org.