Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC), in collaboration with The Driving Force (TDF), the Black Automotive Media Group (BAMG) and Hyundai Motor America, proudly announce the second year of their 10-week fall semester internship. This groundbreaking program, designed to immerse Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) students in automotive media, continues to set new standards for career development in the automotive industry.
The BAMG is a distinguished group of African American publishers, writers, editors, media talent and entrepreneurs who help foster opportunities for Black professionals who work in the automotive industry.
In a release announcing the second year of the program, Kimatni D. Rawlins, BAMG founder and publisher of Automotive Rhythms, said, “BAMG’s collaboration with FAMUcreates new career pathways for FAMU students. Through the internship, we are helping prepare HBCU students and supporting automobile manufacturers for the rapidly changing demographic profiles in the United States.”
The program, facilitated by Rawlins, Marcus Amick and Internship Manager Caroline Carter, offers FAMU’s SJGC students in-depth exposure to automative journalism and multimedia production while simultaneously creating career pathways for students who have traditionally been underrepresented in the industry. Hyundai Motor America remains a committed partner and champions initiatives to bring opportunities to HBCU students.
“We are proud to continue this partnership and internship program with FAMU and BAMG, reaffirming Hyundai’s dedication to fostering diversity within the industry,” said Randy Parker, CEO for Hyundai Motor America. “Through this program, we provide students with real-world opportunities that can shape their futures, while also bringing new perspectives and creativity into the automotive media space.”
The Driving Force internship will allow students to work directly with industry professionals and will offer students direct learning experiences including vehicle evaluations, video content creation, and advertising projects targeting users of traditional and social media. The students will also gain insights into Hyundai’s corporate structure and acquire a broader understanding of the automative industry’s complex ecosystem.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Hyundai and the Black Automotive Media Group for a second year in a row,” said Mira Lowe, dean of the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication at FAMU. “This unique internship opens up a new career lane for our students, who get to hone their storytelling skills and learn from professionals in the automotive sector.”
The program will culminate in a final project where students will present their work to Hyundai executives and automotive media professionals.
As detailed on its website, Hyundai Motor America offers United States consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company’s Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the United States. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai’s 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the country’s economy.
