WTTW Historic Preservation Internships

For the past several years, SAIC Historic Preservation students have been fortunate enough to work as interns for WTTW, Channel 11. As you all know, WTTW is not only our local television station, it is also Chicago’s public media organization, and creates  and presents independent, unique television and digital media content for publications, both digital and print. Previous interns have included, among others, Jes Farnum, Christen Sundquist Martin, Dan O’Brien, Lydia Woods, and most recently, current first year student Jeanne Sylvester.  

Interns have worked on WTTW’s series Ten that Changed America, a national, PBS prime-time television series, book and interactive website exploring the history of America’s built environment. The first season aired in May, 2013 and consisted of three episodes: Ten Homes, Ten Parks and Ten Towns that Changed America. Geoffrey Baer is the host of the television series, and Dan Protess is the series producer and internship program director. WTTW is now entering a second full season, and the next three episodes will be: Ten Streets, Ten Monuments, and Ten Modern Marvels that Changed America.

Jeanne assisted Dan with vetting subjects for the upcoming series, researched and located experts in the field for interviews, and performed substantive and detailed historical research.

Most recently, our celeb alumni Dan O’Brien was featured on WTTW’s Program Chicago Tonight to discuss his Lenten photographic pilgrimage of historic Chicago churches.