Meet the Intern: Dylan Ebs

Dylan Ebs interned at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting during Spring 2024, working with the External Affairs team. He continues to work in media, currently interning for Voice of America .

Describe your typical morning as an intern.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I work in-person, so I come to the office– sometimes with a coffee from Compass – and start my day by checking my email. I always check the press clips email so I’m updated on the latest public media news, which is especially helpful to prepare for congressional meetings.

Introduce yourself. What is your background?

I just finished my sophomore year at The George Washington University , studying journalism and political science. Austin, Texas, is home for me and I fell in love with journalism from writing for my high school newspaper. My interest in political journalism brought me to D.C., and I’ve attended so many amazing events in D.C. both through GW and CPB that have affirmed this interest. Outside of work and school, you can usually find me at a golf course. I’ve been playing since I was seven (though my game doesn’t reflect that), and I’m always watching golf when I’m not playing it. My humble brag is that I was on the Golf Channel because Justin Thomas gave me a signed ball during a tournament.

What do you do as a CPB intern?

I work under CPB’s External Affairs team and I’m mostly involved in the Government Affairs component of that. I regularly meet with congressional staff members along with our Senior Director of External and Government Affairs, Clayton Barsoum , where we discuss  the impact of public media in members’ districts and answer questions from staff. Recently, I worked on updating our biographies for members of Congress who serve on CPB’s authorizing and appropriating committees to ensure that we are well-informed about their background and interests.

Can you share a memorable anecdote, maybe about your time on Capitol Hill?

I had the opportunity to ask Judy Woodruff about her “civic spark,” during this year’s APTS Public Media Summit. She was so friendly and receptive to my questions about why she went into journalism. PBS News was always on at my home, so it was really an honor to meet one of my journalism idols.

Is the public media system what you expected it to be? What type of public media work or initiatives would you want to highlight to the general public?

I never realized the full impact that public media makes in the community beyond just journalism and television/radio programming. One example is the Ready To Learn initiative , which CPB and PBS partner on to fund and develop educational content for preschoolers.

At the local level, stations also have their own unique educational initiatives. Iowa PBS ’ FIND program is a great example of this. By virtually exploring the state, students learn about science and social studies.

If someone had to get to know you only through a public media program, which program would it be?

I have to rep my hometown so definitely “Austin City Limits ” by Austin PBS .

How would you describe Gen Z's relationship with public media?

I would say Gen Z is increasingly consuming podcasts produced by public radio stations. We’re not like our parents in the sense that we listen to the radio, so the increase of on-demand content produced by public media organizations is appealing. I love that I can add my favorite podcasts on Spotify along with my music.

What program do you recommend Gen Z or the general public tune into?

Besides “Austin City Limits,” I would say NPR ’s Tiny Desk concerts. So many of my favorite artists have been featured on this series and it’s a great way to discover up and coming artists as well.

What tip or advice would you have for young people interested in working in public media?

Don’t be afraid to pursue opportunities that aren’t fully aligned with your interests. As a journalism major, I didn’t think I would do a government affairs internship but the skills and knowledge I’ve developed from this role are transferrable to so many jobs, both within and outside of journalism.

About The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit www.cpb.org and follow us on Facebook , LinkedIn , Threads , Instagram , and subscribe for email updates.