Let me tell you some things you may NOT already know. Follow my advice and your first gig won’t be your last.

• Know what you’re getting into. You’d be surprised how many interns don’t bother to learn about the place they’ll be interning at. Show your initiative by getting to know your employer’s news values before your first day. One station may value spot news while another may emphasize in-depth reports. Some papers value storytelling and anecdotal leads, while others prefer a no-fuss hard-hitting tone. Are they independently owned or part of a chain? Know your audience, market and competition.

• Dress the part. You know it’s summer when you get the annual memo reminding staff that the newsroom is not a beach or a bar. Hot numbers are best for the club or don’t be surprised when no one takes you seriously. Birkenstocks may be the official footwear of California, but don’t wonder why you got passed over for that interview with the Governor. You can’t go wrong with your basic shirt and slacks. Dress it up or down depending on whether you’re heading to cover the boardroom or a forest fire. Some reporters keep a change of clothes in their car trunk so they’ll be prepared for any story.
• Be ready for anything. Be sure your car is as ready as you are. You have car insurance, but what about spare change for parking meters and cash for the unexpected, such as photocopies? Remember to charge your cell phone, pager, camera and laptop. Have extra batteries, pens, notepads and a street map on hand. It’s also a good idea to keep snacks and drinks in your car to sustain you while working a breaking story.

• Keep a positive attitude. OK, you’re writing a short brief about a pet adoption event - there are seemingly more important stories to do - but do it well and with a good attitude, and you’ll probably get a better assignment next time. I once heard an intern say "briefs are boring." Yes, they are. But no one likes prima donnas, least of all those who have yet to earn their stripes.

• Be accurate and credible. Whether it’s taking sport scores over the phone or getting an obituary right, your internship offers the chance to potentially impact thousands of people. A good reputation is hard to earn, but easy to lose.

• Be timely. Arrive early and don’t be in a hurry to leave. You are in a business that is always up against the clock, so don’t settle for getting your work in at deadline, strive to turn it in way before. Not only will you win brownie points, but your work will benefit from increased time and attention from editors and producers.

• Communicate. Be sure to check in and out with your supervisor and others who need to know your whereabouts. You don’t want to miss a return call from a key source. Likewise, talk to your supervisor throughout the day so you’re both on the same page. This saves everyone time and effort and reduces rewrites, re-shoots and additional interviews.

• Do more than asked. Volunteer and contribute in as many ways as possible. When people see that you are willing to put out, they’ll be more apt to help you achieve your goals. So go offer your help to anyone who needs or wants it.

• Be humble. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard coworkers complain about the arrogance, attitude of entitlement and disrespect they find in some interns. You don’t want to be on this list. Be modest, willing to work and open to learning. Ask questions about the job you’re interested in. Go talk to people outside your specific internship area and see how everyone fits into the overall picture.

• Treat others the way you want to be treated. One intern-turned-reporter, still angry at a former co-worker, didn’t have nice things to say about her ex-colleague, who was in for a job interview, when asked by her editor. The unsuspecting woman never had a chance. What goes around, comes around.

• Keep it business. Avoid the temptation to contribute to a negative environment, even if it seems that everyone’s doing it.

• Network. Anyone who’s been in the news business any length of time knows hundreds of people. Part of being a good journalist is also being a good schmoozer who knows how to open doors. It’s how we get some of the best stories.

• Be real. Journalism is an idealistic profession, but don’t let that get in the way of reality. It’s also a business that employs a variety of people with different backgrounds, values, ethics, expectations and experiences. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose; but in the end, the world is better because of journalists.

Bet you’re thinking that med school doesn’t sound so bad after all. Did you think this internship would be a walk in the park? Guess what? Neither is journalism. But it’s the best job I’ve had.

Now you’ll want to finish out your internship by reviewing the experience in the following way:

• Jot down what you learned about your strengths and weaknesses, what you liked and didn’t about the job, and make the necessary adjustments.

• Consider how you would have done things differently if you knew then what you know now. In other words, learn from your mistakes.

• Get copies of your clips, scripts, tapes and other tangible forms of your work.

• Send thank you cards to your supervisor, mentor, internship program coordinator and anyone you want to personally thank. Leave a general thank you note or e-mail to the entire newsroom.

• Ask for letters of recommendation and references.

• Keep in touch with as many people as you can.

• Think about how you can apply what you’ve learned to your studies or school paper, station or Web site.

• Start thinking about what and where you want your next internship to be and what you hope to accomplish there. Start researching other internships. The best internships are highly competitive and have early deadlines.

• If you still want to do this after completing your first internship, then go find yourself a mentor. AAJA has various programs that match mentors with students.

Now that you've got an internship under your belt, you've probably got advice of your own to share. Submit your ideas to the AAJA-Sacramento Chapter Student Web Page so that other students can benefit from your experience.

Oh, and don’t tell your parents I gave you these tips. They'll never forgive me

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Susan Tom is an assignment editor at KCRA in Sacramento. Prior to her foray into television news, she’s been a reporter at the Statesman Journal in Salem, Ore., and the Pensacola News Journal in Florida. She’s covered beats in business, government, health and education, and also wrote breaking news, general assignment and feature stories.