Written by: Kellianne Jones, Blog Contributor
When starting out on my internship search last year, I remember sitting at my computer, staring at Google with my fingers hanging over the keyboard, and trying to think of news networks. I’d type in “ABC internships” and “CNN internships”. I think this is the way most students begin their internship search.
Unless you have been dreaming of working at a particular place your whole life, this method gets you nowhere. Not only are these big-name internships usually expensive (they require you to pay for college credit) and competitive (everyone applies for them), it’ll show if you don’t truly care about the company and what it stands for. You’ll send out a generic cover letter and chances are, you’ll never get hired. That’s why you should apply for internships at companies that do work you admire.
TIP #1: Think about what you like
Think about the show on Current TV you never want to miss or the website you love to check out to get your news. If you are digging Current TV’s journalists more than CNN’s, there’s a reason for that. It’s no secret that many of the mass media companies are in trouble- maybe the future lies within these smaller, obscure companies that are gaining a loyal following. Get an internship at a place like this and in a few years, you’ll be patting yourself on the back for making connections in a place where you can actually use them.
Examples of ways to find media you are passionate about:
- Take a walk through Blockbuster or Barnes & Noble to find some movie titles that intrigue you. Look for festival winners to find the names of some up-and-coming production companies.
- Think about commercials that you can’t get out of your head and find out the name of the advertising agency.
- Listen to talk shows on the radio.
- Look at industry or topic-related blogs that you subscribe to.
- Search around Twitter to find companies that are exercising great PR, and find out if they offer internships in their publicity department.
Look on the company’s website for internship details or contact information, and send them a persuasive cover letter and resume. If you decide that a big-name internship is still the best option for you, think about finding one in a web department or find a newspaper or magazine that has good online readership. This means they are working hard to survive in the new media environment.
TIP #2: Think of other ways to build your resume
Maybe you don’t land the internship of your dreams. Or maybe they only have you coming to the office 2 times a week. This does happen. There’s plenty of other ways to boost your experience.
Aspiring travel-writers can contribute to websites such as Matador or Glimpse to get some articles published. If you are a magazine major, I’m sure you subscribe to online magazines or blogs- see if they are willing to take you on as a contributor. An aspiring PR professional can become web-savvy by tweeting about the industry. Look for things that are web-based (since we all know that’s the way the industry is headed) so you can increase your presence online. Although you probably wouldn’t want these things to be your sole internship for the summer, they can serve as supplements that might just make your resume stand out.
Photographers can contribute to online photography sites such as Vewd or submit some of your work to sites like Burn or Making Room. You could even make contacts on these sites by emailing the photographer of a feature you loved to let them know you admired their work. If you are in a major city while you are interning, check out the gigs section in Craigslist. Professional photographers post there all the time looking for a production assistant for a day or weekend shoot. This will be a good way add some interesting experience to your resume and make some new connections.
Good luck and happy searching!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
TRICKS OF THE TRADE: Newspaper Reporting Techniques by Lindsay Barton
Written By: Lindsay Barton, Blog Contributor
Newspaper reporting is one of the most interesting professions around. Although it is rapidly changing due to the ever-increasing presence of the Web, many people are still loyal newspaper readers. This section offers tips dealing with the formation of the lead, supporting the lead, and interviewing techniques.
The news lead is an objective sentence that does not exceed 35 words and has no more than one comma. It is imperative that the lead contain all necessary information in order for the reader to grasp the main idea and continue to the next article. The lead should be interesting; the reader should want to keep reading the article. This sentence should be declarative, and active voice should be used; it is more powerful. Adjectives and adverbs must not dominate the lead. Writing consisting of excess modifiers is not as forceful as writing containing descriptive verbs. Also, unfamiliar names should not be used in the lead. It is easier for readers to understand the story if they are first presented with recognizable information.
The next paragraph of the article is the explanation of the lead, or “backing up the lead.” It is in this section where details are inserted, names are given, and the significance of the article is explained. Questions posed by the lead are answered here. Depending on the length of the article, this paragraph sums up the story with a conclusion. The conclusion should be clear and succinct, as well as provide a strong closing for the story.
Interviewing is one of the most common methods of obtaining information. When interviewing, it is important that you have a goal in mind, in addition to a focused commentary. The reporter should keep a conversational tone throughout the interview. Research on the interviewee prior to the interview is significant; the reporter is more prepared and knows which type of questions to ask. In order for the interview to be successful, do not move on to the next question until you are satisfied that the previous question was answered completely and thoroughly. More importantly, keep questions short and simple. It is easier for the interviewee to answer questions that are more direct.
Once the reporter is finished writing the article, a number of steps must be adhered to before the article is ready for publication. In order to ensure accuracy, facts cited in the story must be verified. It is also important to eliminate spelling and grammatical errors, as they can be a distraction to the reader. News writers should be familiar with the journalistic style when creating a piece, and should reference The Associated Press Stylebook, the industry standard for journalistic writing style.
Newspaper reporting is one of the most interesting professions around. Although it is rapidly changing due to the ever-increasing presence of the Web, many people are still loyal newspaper readers. This section offers tips dealing with the formation of the lead, supporting the lead, and interviewing techniques.
The news lead is an objective sentence that does not exceed 35 words and has no more than one comma. It is imperative that the lead contain all necessary information in order for the reader to grasp the main idea and continue to the next article. The lead should be interesting; the reader should want to keep reading the article. This sentence should be declarative, and active voice should be used; it is more powerful. Adjectives and adverbs must not dominate the lead. Writing consisting of excess modifiers is not as forceful as writing containing descriptive verbs. Also, unfamiliar names should not be used in the lead. It is easier for readers to understand the story if they are first presented with recognizable information.
The next paragraph of the article is the explanation of the lead, or “backing up the lead.” It is in this section where details are inserted, names are given, and the significance of the article is explained. Questions posed by the lead are answered here. Depending on the length of the article, this paragraph sums up the story with a conclusion. The conclusion should be clear and succinct, as well as provide a strong closing for the story.
Interviewing is one of the most common methods of obtaining information. When interviewing, it is important that you have a goal in mind, in addition to a focused commentary. The reporter should keep a conversational tone throughout the interview. Research on the interviewee prior to the interview is significant; the reporter is more prepared and knows which type of questions to ask. In order for the interview to be successful, do not move on to the next question until you are satisfied that the previous question was answered completely and thoroughly. More importantly, keep questions short and simple. It is easier for the interviewee to answer questions that are more direct.
Once the reporter is finished writing the article, a number of steps must be adhered to before the article is ready for publication. In order to ensure accuracy, facts cited in the story must be verified. It is also important to eliminate spelling and grammatical errors, as they can be a distraction to the reader. News writers should be familiar with the journalistic style when creating a piece, and should reference The Associated Press Stylebook, the industry standard for journalistic writing style.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Internship Hunt!
It's that time of year... summer internship search! SUWICI has got its lovely members covered. Here's a list of some helpful info to get you started, or keep you going strong!
NEWHOUSE CDC'S SIX STEPS TO FIND AN INTERNSHIP
Adapted from the Newhouse Tina Press and David Ruben Career Center publication. Visit the CDC in NH 3 for more in-depth information and one-on-one assistance.
That's all for right now... keep coming back for more editions of "Tricks of the Trade." Upcoming blogs will be focused on the celebrity/entertainment field, as well as print reporting techniques!
Amy Orgel
NEWHOUSE CDC'S SIX STEPS TO FIND AN INTERNSHIP
Adapted from the Newhouse Tina Press and David Ruben Career Center publication. Visit the CDC in NH 3 for more in-depth information and one-on-one assistance.
- Establish your criteria: You need to know your purpose, location, and credit options.
- Review existing internship opportunities: Look online and in the CDC for current postings.
- Identify additional internship opportunities: Look for more info in the NH "Industry Directories", yellow pages, chambers of commerce, NACAN, trade magazines, and the Career Services "Vault" in Schine.
- Call companies or visit websites to get more detailed info on the internships: Look for info about requirements, contacts, start dates, submission deadlines, and departmental specifications.
- Apply to your internships: The CDC recommends applying to three to twelve opportunities.
- Follow up and maintain contact: Every few weeks should remind them you're interested.
That's all for right now... keep coming back for more editions of "Tricks of the Trade." Upcoming blogs will be focused on the celebrity/entertainment field, as well as print reporting techniques!
Amy Orgel
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