November 09, 2011
“The more clear you are about what you’re wanting to get out of an internship, the more likely it is you’ll get something useful.”
Portfolio pieces
Specialist knowledge
Each publication has a specific structure, and the more you can understand that, the better off you’ll be and the more you’ll learn
What is the power structure? Who decides things?
This can be difficult in newsrooms — informal and formal power structures.
“Unleash your inner anthropologist.”
Most newspapers can be divided into two categories, with sources of power in both:
Input
Output
In a well-resourced and well-conducted media organization, not a single word would make it on page without going through the hands of at least 3 people.
Figure out the input side — where are ideas decided, are there idea generation meetings, etc.?
Make sure you have ideas ready for forward planning meetings.
Find sympathetic people who will let you shadow them
Don’t disdain desks in out of the way places.
Don’t do more than 2 pages.
Watch for spelling and grammar errors. Even the smallest errors will get your resume binned.
“It is never possible for a single individual to check their own work perfectly — give it to somebody else.”
Finally — remember these are organizations aiming for large audiences; don’t overplay blogging.