Students in a television studio collaborating on creative projects.
Jimena Meza Gonzales, a Santa Barbara High School graduate, has been selected for the Television Academy Foundation Internship program, where she will gain hands-on experience in the television industry. As a junior at California State University, Long Beach, Gonzales is set to intern in unscripted television development. This opportunity highlights her dedication and the importance of diversity in media, marking a significant step in her career journey.
Santa Barbara, California – Jimena Meza Gonzales, a recent graduate of Santa Barbara High School, has been selected for the prestigious Television Academy Foundation Internship program for the 2025 summer session. Gonzales is among only 40 students from across the country chosen for this competitive opportunity, which is exclusively available to college students looking to enter the television industry.
The Television Academy Foundation offers paid internships at top Hollywood studios and production companies through its annual program. These internships are designed to give students hands-on experience and mentorship in various disciplines within the television industry. This year, Gonzales will be interning in the unscripted television development department at Endemol Shine North America, located in North Hollywood, California. Her position is part of the Foundation’s “Getting Real: Unscripted” initiative, which focuses on increasing diversity and representation within the field of unscripted and reality television.
As the first member of her family to attend college, Gonzales is currently a junior at California State University, Long Beach, where she majors in cinematic arts with a minor in Chicano and Latino studies. Her academic endeavors align closely with the core objectives of the Television Academy Foundation, which seeks to engage and educate the next generation of television professionals.
The “Getting Real: Unscripted” program is specially tailored for undergraduate and graduate students with a dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices in the industry. By fostering an inclusive environment, the program aims to cultivate diversity and improve representation in a highly competitive field. Throughout the eight-week, paid internship, Gonzales will receive in-depth exposure to professional television production, which is critical for her future career.
Gonzales is also recognized as a Point NBCU Scholar, an accolade awarded through the Point Foundation in collaboration with NBCUniversal. This program provides support to LGBTQ+ and allied college students. Additionally, she is an Equitable Excellence Scholar, demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence and diversity.
Gonzales’s selection for the internship reflects both her hard work and the ongoing efforts of the Television Academy Foundation, established in 1959. The Foundation’s mission is to preserve the legacy of television while educating and inspiring future professionals in the industry. Each year, it provides over 50 students nationwide with hands-on work experience, mentorships, and opportunities for accelerated career development in more than 30 disciplines within television.
The significance of this internship extends beyond just individual growth. By participating in this program, Gonzales holds a position that symbolizes the growing recognition of the importance of diversity in media. The challenges of navigating the television industry, especially as a Latina, have been acknowledged by Gonzales in her pursuit of this opportunity. Through such structured support, the Television Academy Foundation is actively working to ensure that the next generation of television creators reflects the rich diversity present in the United States.
In summary, Jimena Meza Gonzales’s selection to the Television Academy Foundation Internship program not only showcases her talents and ambition but also contributes to the ongoing effort to foster inclusion within the media industry. Her journey as a Santa Barbara High School alum to a rising star in cinematic arts exemplifies the potential that lies within dedicated students across the country.
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