Ten students named as Big Ten Network interns

Ten University of Wisconsin–Madison students have been named to the Big Ten Network On-Campus Internship Program, which will provide them challenging, real-world experiences with the new television network.

Student interns

The first ten University of Wisconsin–Madison student interns hired by the Big Ten Network made their game-day debut on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, during the Badger football home game against The Citadel at Camp Randall Stadium. Pictured here, the interns are (first row, left to right): Ryan Fisher, Chelsea Prochnow, Stephanie Caine, Chelsey Lewis, Ariel Sandler; (second row, left to right): Adam Hoge, Jay Messar, Casey Shrots, Maya Carroll, Josh Landau.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to work on the inside of a television network in a variety of capacities, expand their skills and help UW–Madison gain exposure on a national stage," says Vince Sweeney, senior associate athletic director of external relations.

The internship program, which the network is making available at all 11 Big Ten campuses, will offer interns experience in writing for the Internet, working with Big Ten Network staff on game days and helping to produce and broadcast Olympic sports events.

Network President Mark Silverman said the internship program enables students to draw upon one of the world’s most innovative and diverse media companies and perhaps begin their own careers within its operations.

“Universities like Wisconsin have some of the nation’s most recognized programs in media-related studies,” Silverman says. “Breaking into the highly competitive media business is difficult, and we hope that this program will give Wisconsin students and others a head start.”

The UW–Madison students chosen for the program are:

Stephanie Caine, a Wausaukee senior majoring in communication arts and English literature; Maya Carroll, a Whitefish Bay senior majoring in journalism; Ryan Eisner, a Chicago junior majoring in journalism and U.S. history; Adam Hoge, a Chicago senior majoring in journalism; Chelsey Lewis, a Pewaukee junior majoring in journalism and Spanish; Joshua London, a Chicago senior majoring in genetics; Jay Messar, a Luck senior majoring in journalism and French; Chelsea Prochnow, a Madison majoring in journalism; Ariel Sandler, a Des Moines senior majoring in journalism; and Casey Shorts, a Muskego junior majoring in journalism and political science.

All 10 are expected to be involved in the production of Saturday’s football game between seventh-ranked Wisconsin and The Citadel.

The network has installed a new studio facility on the UW campus that includes lighting and stages, high-definition cameras for studio and field reports, and a two-way, high-speed broadband link to Big Ten Network’s production studios in Chicago.

The Big Ten Network, which launched in August with access to more than 28 million households nationally, is dedicated to covering the sports and university communities of the Big Ten Conference.