Courtesy Photo Barrett Jones poses with the Bismark Larks mascot this summer in Bismark, North Dakota, where he interned. Jones is a senior at Ferris State University, on track to graduate in December from the Sports Communication program, with a degree in Sports Communication and a minor in Multimedia Journalism. He is from Alpena.

BIG RAPIDS — Barrett Jones, a senior at Ferris State University, participated in a media and video internship with the Bismark Larks, a baseball team made up of collegiate players and a member of the Northwoods League. Jones, from Alpena, is on track to graduate in December, with a degree in Sports Communication and a minor in Multimedia Journalism.

He said his internship experience has been very beneficial.

“I know the title says media and video, but I have gotten the opportunity to learn about many other aspects in the sports industry,” he said. “While in Bismarck, I got to experience summer league baseball, which is not a collegiate sport at Ferris. I have been able to create content with a lot of ‘creative freedom,’ and there has been a ton of support for acting on my ideas. Aside from content creation, as interns, we are asked to go out and talk to businesses to benefit other departments in the organization. This allowed me to see how important the baseball team is to the community. I think that was one of the reasons I went out to North Dakota, to make an impact in people’s time at the ballpark and capture it.”

He explained his future plans.

“Beyond completing my final semester, I plan to get another season working as a videographer at Ferris before starting my career somewhere in the sports industry,” Jones stated. “I have not locked in on where I want to work after this school year, but I do know that I want to work in the world of sports. The idea of graduate school is still floating around, but I think after this pandemic, the idea of being done with the school will be so rewarding. I understand that the opportunity to say I finished graduate school would set me apart from other job candidates. Still, I believe I can create that separation with my work ethic and attitude.”

He has some advice for others.

“You have to put in the work to find the internship,” he said. “Rarely does an internship offer land on your front step, so it is good to go to job fairs, network, and create an avenue for employers to find you.

“Another important point is determining what you want to get out of these internships. For example, I know I enjoy football, but I never had any experience creating content for a baseball organization. Therefore, I wanted to explore the industry of baseball, so I knew once I graduated, I would have a better feel for where I wanted to go. You need to become a volume shooter when it comes to applying for internships. Leave no stone unturned as you create options for your experience in your chosen field.”