South Middlesex Times

Kate Beemer, a senior at Rutgers University–New Brunswick majoring in journalism and media studies, has spent her summer interning at MTV Germany in Berlin. This internship aligns with her interests in music, improving her German language skills, and studying abroad.

Beemer's role as a music programming intern involved working with the talent and music management department of Music Television Germany, operated by Paramount Global. Her daily tasks included compiling and updating information on top albums and singles. "Every day of the week, there's a new information release. I had to update the charts based on when it comes out," she explained.

"It's honestly been an amazing experience," said Beemer, who started the internship in May and completed it in mid-July. "I mean, No. 1, it's all in German, so that's been a big challenge for me."

Having spent her junior year studying German and journalism at Freie Universität Berlin (the Free University of Berlin), Beemer found that being in a professional environment where everyone speaks German was beneficial for sharpening her language skills. "I'm having to constantly make sure I'm working on my German – and not just in a casual way," she noted.

A transfer student from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Beemer arrived at Rutgers as a sophomore with plans to study abroad for a year in Germany before completing her degree in New Brunswick.

Meghan Ingstrup, assistant dean for undergraduate student services at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information, has played a crucial role in helping Beemer achieve this plan. As Beemer’s adviser, Ingstrup highlighted how ambitious it was for Beemer to balance coursework requirements while planning to study abroad.

"She's like, ‘Listen, I really want to do journalism and media studies... but I also have this plan...to spend a year studying abroad,’” Ingstrup said. “And that's awfully ambitious as a transfer student who still wants to stay on track for timely graduation.”

Squeezing the MTV internship into that plan was an added benefit. Internships in Germany typically require longer commitments; however, Ingstrup helped ensure that this experience could count towards Beemer's major credits at Rutgers.

"We've done a lot of work together consistently throughout each semester... ensuring that she can stay on track to timely degree completion," said Ingstrup.

Beemer's mother grew up in Germany before moving to the United States as a teenager. This familial connection influenced Beemer's comfort with the German language despite feeling she had lost some proficiency over time.

"I grew up hearing it around the house," said Beemer. She decided it would be her goal to regain fluency and travel back to Germany.

Over the next year, Beemer plans to apply for master's programs focusing on media studies potentially related to music while continuing her education journey inspired by opportunities provided by Rutgers–New Brunswick.

"Rutgers pretty much checked off every box for me... It was just overall the most practical decision and the best possible way for me to pursue what my goals were at the time,” she concluded.

Ingstrup emphasized how committed students like Beemer are fortunate due to available resources: “Our Rutgers students are really lucky that these experiences exist for them.”