Ohio State nav bar

Summer Internship Series: Emily Dean

July 5, 2016

Summer Internship Series: Emily Dean

Emily Dean

Communication Analysis and Practice Major, Columbus Radio Group Street Team

On the first day of my internship with the Columbus Radio Group, I attended an orientation with the nine other members of the Street Team. Nestled in an Upper Arlington neighborhood surrounded by houses with well-manicured lawns, an elementary school down the street and “Sunny 95 Park” next door, I knew as I walked into the office the first day that it was going to feel like home.

Everyone was smiling because we were so eager to start working for such a cool company. We met our supervisor, who is the morning show host on Mix 107.9, as well as the event director, the two promotions directors for Sunny 95 and QFM 96 and the marketing director for the building. After their introductions, the company’s general manager welcomed us to the team.

With the increase of events and appearances scheduled during the summer, the full-time staff has difficulty planning, setting up and attending all the events. Our job as the Street Team is to relieve some of the pressure from the regular promotions staff and set up and attend these events. There would be some work to do for us in the office from time to time, but primarily we will be attending community events, talking to station sponsors, interacting with listeners, giving away prizes, and serving as faces of the stations.

My first event
My first event for Sunny 95 took place a few days after orientation. Delaware Hayes High School students and staff won Sunny 95’s School Spirit contest. We set up in the gym with the Sunny 95 and Mix 107.9 logos and inflatables, where American Authors would make a surprise appearance and play one of their hit songs, “Best Day of My Life.”

We presented the principal with a $5,000 check from the station’s sponsors, and Donato’s catered lunch for all the students. Though my team members and I were essentially present to help tape signs to the walls and blow up some inflatables, it was VERY cool to tell my family and friends I attended a mini concert and met a band, all on my second day!

Making a difference
My first event for QFM 96 was short, but sweet, at a local Kroger. I worked with one other team member to set up a table near the entrance of the store, where we displayed Mist Twist cans from our Pepsi sponsor to give to customers. Additionally, representatives from The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium brought a few animals to show community members. QFM 96, in partnership with the zoo, gave away free four-packs of tickets to attend the opening day of Zoombezi Bay.  

Dean holding kangaroo

 

Children and adults really enjoyed the animals and Kroger’s free root beers floats and prizes. Being able to lift spirits even further by giving them some free family fun for their weekend felt even sweeter. This event made me start to realize the point of these promotions. Since the Columbus Radio Group isn’t a company that makes regular sales, it is essential for us to be as involved in the community as much as possible, making those genuine connections, putting smiles on peoples’ faces, and hopefully influencing their decisions to tune in to one of our stations.

Making the most of my experience
I attended Sunny 95’s “Touch a Truck” event, which was a two-hour appearance with fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, tractors and cranes for kids to climb into and explore. Our team set up Sunny 95’s inflatable Mr. Sunny, station flags, banners and a prize wheel. Our station’s “Treat Truck,” which is essentially an ice cream van equipped with speakers to play music from Sunny 95, was there as well. One of my teammates dressed up as our mascot, Mr. Sunny, and walked around to high-five, take pictures and dance with kids.

While I worked the prize wheel, I met the event’s emcee, Mike Austin, who is also the producer for Dino and Stacy’s morning show on Sunny 95. I asked him a bit about his job, and asked to shadow him one day that next week, to which he excitedly agreed.

Encounters like this are what motivates me to continue, because everyone that I have met at the station is so outwardly kind and gracious, and it is in that kind of environment that I would love to make connections, learn about the industry and train for the future.

Meet all of the 2016 summer intern bloggers and read about their experiences.