A Summer as a Production Intern at the Today Show

Antonia DeBianchi (’20) grew up watching the Today Show — and this summer she landed the internship of a lifetime at Studio 1A. The incoming senior learned the ins and outs of pitching stories, planning shows and producing live segments. As a journalism student and previous intern at news organizations such as Boston Magazine and WGBH, Antonia envisioned herself someday becoming a reporter — but her experience at TODAY opened her eyes to the exciting opportunities available in production. We chatted with the rising media star about her dream internship.

As a production intern at The Today Show, what did a typical day look like for you?

Each week, I had a different shift, which really helped me understand every aspect of the show from pre-production to right up until the LIVE segments aired. I had several office shifts in which I helped producers with research, pitched stories, and completed front desk duties. Other shifts included shadowing in the control rooms and helping the production assistants run the show’s rundowns upstairs to graphics, audio and other departments that helped with the technical aspects of the show. The green room was another exciting shift because I was right in the middle of the action in Studio 1A; I had to ensure the guests and correspondents were comfortable before their hit times, along with assign their cars. Other studio-heavy shifts were really exciting and allowed me to see what was happening both in Studio 1A and on the plaza.

Can you describe one of the most memorable moments you've had while working on-set of the show?

One of the most memorable moments I had while working on the show was assisting and shadowing a TODAY producer on a field shoot interview. She showed me all the tedious details that go into producing and planning a show. I shadowed her in the edit room for two days post-shoot and was able to watch the segment transform from endless clips to a tight, finished, amazing piece! This experience was so special because I was able to watch a tape piece come to life from start to finish. I also enjoyed pitching diverse stories to producers and hearing their feedback/hopefully seeing some of my ideas come to air!

What are some of the biggest takeaways or lessons you've learned? In what ways has your experience this summer impacted your career goals? 

Ever since I was old enough to watch TV, I watched the TODAY Show. So walking into 30 Rock and Studio 1A every day this summer was a dream come true. My internship challenged me in so many ways that were necessary for me to grow as a young journalist. Not only did I learn how every hour of the TODAY Show works, but I also have a clear grasp of how live television comes to life. I’ve acquired many technical and networking skills that can translate into my classes in COM, as well as my future career. As my senior year approaches this fall, my experience at TODAY has made me realize how much I would like to pursue television journalism. NBC is an incredible company to learn and to grow in and one day (hopefully soon!) I'll be back. While I initially went into the summer wanting to eventually be an on-air reporter, my internship has piqued my interest into the world of producing, so I’ll see where my future experiences take me — be it on-air or at the producer desk. As for now, I cannot wait to apply the new skills I acquired at TODAY in my journalism classes in COM!