IU alum to work with Fox News

When IU alumna Eboni Gatlin started her internship at Fox News during the summer of 2005, she did not realize that in one year she would end up in the company’s elite apprentice program. \n“I did not really have any intention of coming back (to Fox after my internship),” Gatlin said. “It was just something to make contacts and hopefully good references for the future.”\nGatlin said she found out after her internship about the apprentice program and started thinking about packing up her life and moving to New York. \nFox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes established the apprentice program in 2002 to attract and assist minority employees. During the one-year program, four or five students work with a mentor in different departments at Fox. Upon completion, students earn a regular spot in the company, according to a Fox news press release.\n“(Ailes) thought that because minorities are traditionally underrepresented in TV, we need to find a way to have minorities come to us,” said Maureen Hunt, vice president of human resources at Fox. “We discovered that people who start at entry level succeed. You need to learn from the ground up.” \nDuring her time at IU, Gatlin worked for WTIU, IUSTV and the Indiana Daily Student. After completing her internship with Fox and learning about the apprentice program, she decided to leave her hometown of Kokomo, Ind., and move to New York. \n“I had my then 4-year-old daughter so it was a big decision,” Gatlin said. “It felt like it was now or never. When do you have the opportunity to move to New York for a job? If I fail, at least I’m young enough that I can start over. What do I have to lose from this?” \nGatlin worked on production for “Studio B,” a Fox news television program, which included everything from researching for segments to booking guests to appear on the show. \n“It can be very, very stressful and there’s a lot of pressure,” Gatlin said. “It’s great that we put so much emphasis on getting things right. Everything is triple-checked and then checked one more time. There is always a stress on being perfect and being at the top of the game and that’s fun.” \nWhile the entire program has been beneficial, Gatlin said, working with Shepard Smith, news anchor for “Fox Report,” was one of the highlights. \n“Having Shepard as my mentor and the person who kind of helped me and pushed me along, that is one of the things I am most thankful for,” Gatlin said. “I truly did feel like I got to experience every aspect of TV production and figure out what I eventually really, really love and really want to do.” \nGatlin will work as a production assistant and booker after graduating from the program in January.\nSince the program’s establishment, it has had an almost 100 percent retention rate and all of the graduates have advanced in their careers, \nHunt said. \n“I hear from the talent and producers that Eboni is very impressive and passionate about what she’s doing,” Hunt said. “Shepard Smith personally told me that she has \nbeen great.” \nLooking back on her apprenticeship at Fox, Gatlin offered advice for students wanting to pursue a career \nin journalism. \n“One of the things that helped me was that I went to all of the journalism conventions,” Gatlin said. “Networking is important and also always remembering how you present yourself at every single opportunity ... Always make sure you’re putting your best self out there because people will notice.”