Internship Experience: Max Valva at KUTV

Max Valva

This fall, I had the amazing opportunity to intern at KUTV, the CBS affiliate in Salt Lake City, which serves as one of the top news stations in the state of Utah. When I got the call that I was offered the internship, I was both thrilled and motivated, knowing that this was my first real step into the professional world of journalism.

Walking into the station on my first day, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had visions of a bustling newsroom like in the movies, with reporters frantically typing away and producers shouting instructions. Instead, I found a structured, collaborative environment where everyone worked together to bring the best possible stories to the audience.

From day one I was hands-on. I started out in the station shadowing the news producers and news directors which gave me a solid foundation for understanding how a newsroom operates behind the scenes. Learning about camera setups, live broadcasts, and the intricacies of technical directing opened my eyes to how much coordination it takes to produce a seamless newscast. I assisted with setting up studio equipment, shadowed control room operations, and gained first-hand experience in ensuring everything runs smoothly during live segments. This behind-the-scenes work laid the groundwork for the rest of my internship and gave me a new appreciation for the team effort required in news production.

Throughout the internship, I rotated between different departments to understand how the station operates. I spent time learning how stories are pitched and coordinated, worked with the social media team who had the important role of making sure the station’s stories gained clicks on various social media sites, notably Youtube Shorts and X, and joined reporters in the field to cover everything from breaking news to feature stories. I even got the chance to contribute to the special projects desk, where I learned about all the various community stories that they covered in the past year. I archived news stories and meticulously recorded timestamps of specific segments for the station’s end of the year recap.

One of my favorite experiences during my internship was working with the sports desk, where I had the chance to help cover high school football games. Shadowing sports reporter Adam Mikulich was incredibly inspiring as I got to see firsthand how he tells the story behind every game. His role involved capturing dynamic footage at high school games and then returning to the station to craft and edit game recaps for the station’s weekly high school football program, which aired at 10 p.m. I learned the importance of precision and creativity in storytelling while assisting with editing on Avid Media Composer, a powerful tool that gave me hands-on experience with professional production software. During my sports desk experience I was able to meet former Utah Head Football Coach Ron McBride, a multi-time conference champion and hear stories about his coaching days and love of football.

Working with the sports desk showed me a role I could see myself doing in the future. I enjoyed the fast pace of covering games, creating exciting recaps, and working with a team to tell great stories.

While the early mornings and long days were challenging, they were also some of the most rewarding moments of my journey. I embraced every opportunity to practice my skills, whether it was writing scripts, editing footage, or assisting reporters with live hits. The fast-paced environment kept me on my toes and taught me the importance of adaptability and quick decision making in the field. One of the things I loved most about KUTV was the supportive and collaborative culture. The newsroom was full of people who genuinely cared about their work and the community they serve. Hearing about their unique paths to this station inspired me to continue chasing my dream of becoming a journalist.

As my internship comes to a close, I feel more confident in my abilities and clearer about my future. When I started, I wasn’t sure which path I wanted to take in journalism, but now I know I want to focus on being a field reporter—whether in sports or other areas. The excitement of chasing stories, connecting with people, and sharing their experiences has shown me exactly where my passion lies.

To anyone considering an internship in journalism: go for it. Apply, even if you think you don’t have a chance. The worst thing they can say is no, and the best thing that could happen is you’ll land an opportunity that changes your life. My time at KUTV has been a transformative experience, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next.