GRAY MEDIA TRAINING PROGRAM SUMMER '26 - WIS

About Gray Media:

Gray Media, or Gray, is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company is the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. The portfolio includes 77 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second-highest-rated television station, as well as the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 45 markets totaling nearly 1.5 million Hispanic TV Households. The company also owns Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Gray's additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

About WIS:

WIS is the #1 local media organization in the capital city market of Columbia, South Carolina. It is the market's top-rated broadcast television station, a digital publisher reaching tens of millions of users each year, and the home of GDM Columbia, a full-service in-house digital advertising agency with national scale. WIS is also the hub for Palmetto Sports & Entertainment, a statewide broadcast sports network, and an affiliate of Telemundo SC.

Serving South Carolina's Midlands since 1953, WIS offers the opportunity to join an award-winning culture for a popular brand built upon decades of market leadership. Named the South Carolina Broadcasters Association's Station of the Year a record 17 times, WIS has earned the Edward R. Murrow Award for Journalism Excellence, the National Association of Broadcasters' Service to America Award, the George Foster Peabody Award, and is an annual attendee of the Southeast Emmy Awards.

Among the many notable former journalists who helped set our standard, NBC Today Show co-host Craig Melvin began his career with WIS as an intern, photographer, reporter, and then anchor.

WIS produces more than 60 hours of local, original programming per week. The station offers a unique variety of multiplatform advertising solutions, sponsored content, and professional creative services for businesses of any size.

Columbia, South Carolina, is a vibrant and growing capital city with a diverse population. It is home to the U.S. Army's largest installation for Basic Combat Training, Fort Jackson, along with the University of South Carolina and multiple other colleges and universities. WIS is located downtown, just two blocks from the South Carolina Statehouse.

Our community combines affordable quality of living with a variety of entertainment and activities to accommodate your lifestyle, whether it's our 50,000-acre Lake Murray, our Columbia Fireflies minor league baseball team, the Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens, nearby Congaree National Park, and so much more.

The Training Program:

General Responsibilities :

What You'll Do:

• Own the role: Step into the shoes of a producer, MMJ, meteorologist, or media sales executive and handle real-world assignments (yes, the kind that may go on air and online).
• Drive digital engagement: Create content that lives beyond the TV screen, think social media, streaming apps, and web stories-because we're digital-first, always.
• Collaborate with pros: Work side-by-side with seasoned veterans who are the best in the business, gaining insights you won't find in any textbook.
• Commit to the craft: Dedicate 25 hours per week for 10 weeks to mastering your specialty and building a professional-grade portfolio.
• Make an impact: Tell stories that matter to the community or help local businesses grow through innovative media strategies.
• Build your future: Position yourself at the front of the line for full-time career opportunities within Gray Media's network of 113 stations.

What You Bring:

• Current enrollment: You're a college student (Junior or Senior status preferred) chasing a degree in Journalism, Communications, Sales, Marketing, or a related field.
• A "doer" mindset: You aren't afraid to get your hands dirty and take initiative; you're here to work, not just watch.
• Digital savvy: You understand that media happens everywhere, from the big screen to the palm of someone's hand.
• Strong work ethic: You bring urgency, organization, and a "can-do" attitude to every shift.
• Communication skills: You can tell a story, pitch an idea, or explain a forecast with clarity and confidence.
• Reliability: You're ready to commit to the full 10-week program and the 25-hour weekly schedule.
• Passion for local: You care about the community and want to see how local media makes a real difference.

Why You'll Love It Here:

• Real-world experience: You'll graduate with more than just a line on your resume; you'll have the experience of having done the job.
• Unprecedented access: With 113 stations across the U.S., you're part of a massive, innovative network that's leading the future of media.
• Career fast-track: We love hiring our own. This program is designed to be the ultimate audition for your first full-time role with Gray.
• Paid training: Earn while you learn. This is a paid internship.
• A culture of innovation: We're evolving on purpose, and you'll be right there on the front lines of that evolution.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Be currently enrolled in a college/university (preferred Junior/Senior)
• Strong work ethic and organizational skills
• Earning a degree in Journalism/Communications, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, News, Sports, or related fields, with a desire to get hands-on experience in the local media industry

If you are interested in interning in these areas, the station may have openings in these departments for you:

• Marketing
• Sales
• Creative Services
• Sports
• Weather
• News Production
• News MMJ
• Engineering

Ready to stop practicing and start performing? Let's build the future of media together

The intern rate of pay can range from minimum wage in your state to $15 an hour.

• Interested in the program? Go to type "Intern WIS" (in search bar)

WIS-TV/Gray Media is a drug-free company

Additional Info:

Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Gray Media complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Gray Media expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Gray's employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.