Program Overview

Legacy of Emerson Coleman
Emerson Coleman served as the head of programming for 25 years at Hearst Television and he is among the industry’s most highly regarded programming executives. The Emerson Coleman Fellowship (ECF) honors his legacy by providing students with the exposure, information and experience they need to begin a career in television programming or production.

About the Emerson Coleman Fellowship
The ECF is an exciting, immersive four-month training opportunity for five college students to take a deep dive into the world of television programming and production. Fellows gain invaluable hands-on learning through a paid internship at a partner television station. The internship not only enhances professional skills but also opens doors to networking and future career opportunities in the industry. Previous fellows completed internships at the following stations:

The 2026 Emerson Coleman Fellowship Program application will be open from November 2025 - January 2026.

Fellowship

Each fellow will be paired with a host television station. This internship portion of the fellowship lasts two months and will take place from June to July. A sample curriculum is below.

The television programming and production fellow will be responsible for providing creative support for all media endeavors related to broadcast programming. Reports to the programming director/department for creative assignments and other duties as assigned.

Fellowship job duties can include:

• Observe the acquisition and development of new content processes.
• Assist with editing and preparing files for on-air recordings.
• Support show formulation, content and formatting from pre- through post-production.
• Assist with the operation of studio equipment to help facilitate the flow of programs.
• Aid in creating and preparing scripts and content for audio, digital and visual programs.
• Involvement with programming schedules and timelines.
• Monitor the ordering and scheduling of television shows.
• Exposure to Nielsen ratings, E.I. captioning and kids’ programming.
• Participate in virtual program learning sessions.
• Attend biweekly mentorship meetings.
• Develop a capstone project.
• Support other projects as needed.

Each fellow will be paired with a host television station. This internship portion of the fellowship lasts two months and will take place from June to July. The NAB Leadership Foundation will attempt to assign students to host locations that will not require the additional expense of housing during the two-month period.