August 08, 2017

If you see a trailer on your social media newsfeed of choice about PBS’s limited series Summer of Adventure, and find yourself thinking, “That looks interesting,” then you have senior Kes Baker to thank.

Baker, a broadcasting major from Moultonborough, N.H., is interning at PBS, Arlington, Va., this summer. She’s working on the social media marketing of that new limited series, as well as helping to video edit smaller projects. She is also archiving older PBS tapes into a digital format.

“I’m enjoying learning about the behind-the-scenes aspect of television and what goes into the marketing of television shows and programs,” Baker said.

As much as she enjoys handling the work of promoting the unique programming of PBS, she hopes to one day assume the type of role held by documentary filmmaker and PBS mainstay Ken Burns.

“When I was little, I used to dream about being on a television show and being an actress,” Baker said. “But as I got older, I wanted to explore the behind-the-scenes of video and television creation.”

During Baker’s freshman year, she took a class with her now-advisor, communications faculty member John Foltz, called Essentials of Digital Media, during which she was tasked with making a video about herself.

It was a turning point.

“That was the first time I was really able to direct and produce a video, and I loved it. Making my vision come to life was an awesome feeling,” Baker said. “I realized I love to entertain people and make them feel something, and television is a way that I can achieve that.”

It’s a dream she feels more confident than ever will come true.

“This internship is allowing me to see not only what happens in creative services, but also in other areas of television, marketing in particular,” she said.

Having that well-rounded background and the opportunity to intern at a company that is as well-known as PBS will give me a leg up when I’m asked about my experience.”