Andrew Young, an NDSU student from Napoleon, N.D., will spend the summer in New York interning for ABC News.
On May 23, he started as one of two interns working for Diane Sawyer’s news desk. He will write scripts, schedule interviews, write segments, conduct interviews, gather research and transcribe interviews.
Young, a senior double majoring in management communication and broadcast journalism, also interned for ABC in summer 2010. He was one of 60 interns selected out of 15,000 applicants to work for ABC News Now, “World News” and “Good Morning America.”
Rich Lodewyk, broadcast program director in NDSU’s communication department, wasn’t surprised. “What sets Andrew apart is his raw talent. When someone in the broadcasting business sees his work, they can tell he has a firm grasp on how to put video projects together in a professional manner,” he said.
Young got his foot in the door with the network in 2009 when he was chosen to help cover the flooding of the Red River. In March, ABC hired Young to produce the network’s coverage of this year’s spring flood.
Working for ABC has been demanding, but Young has been ready. He credits NDSU for helping him be prepared by creating hands-on opportunities in and out of the classroom. “All the classes at NDSU – intro to media writing, principles of broadcasting and TV studio production – taught me in such a hands-on way. It really enabled me to effectively do my job for ABC right away, I was able to jump in even more then expected,” he said.
Young also gained experience through his involvement with the campus news station, Bison Information Network. He helped launch the station in 2009 and serves as its general manager.
“I am extremely proud of what Andrew has accomplished,” Lodewyk said. “Andrew has impressive broadcasting talent at such a young age. He has an extremely bright future and will succeed because of both his broadcasting ability and his skills at properly making contacts in the industry and fostering them.”
After Young graduates in May 2012 he hopes to return to ABC. “I can’t see myself working anywhere different … I love it so much," Young said. "The work environment and values mirror what I see in myself.”