Can’t Beat the Real Thing Classes help, but real-world experience is best

For the next couple weeks, I’m working on writing the Happenings section for St. Louis Woman Magzine. It’s kind of ironic that this section is one of the most boring and tedious jobs I have done here so far and yet it is probably going to be one of the most highly read sections I write. Good practice for getting the facts straight, I guess.

By now, I’ve finished two sections for two issues. I love writing the profiles and learning about all the organizations and opportunities available in the community. I’ve learned so much not only about what’s out there but also about journalism. Mostly I’ve noticed that although my classes have definitely prepared me for the journalism field, they are still not the real-world experience.

I consistently realize two things. First, I’m seeing tactics or lessons that I have learned in my magazine editing or magazine reporting classes and realizing how my professors were teaching me the perfect strategies. For example, one of my professors taught me something as small as looking at the magazine’s writing style. I may have forgotten to do this, but it’s true. In fact, Rebecca pointed out that I need to use “says,” not “said.”

The second thing I’m realizing is that there are some things that class just can’t teach you. My college experience prepares me in many ways, but some things I have to learn from an actual real-world experience, such as this internship. For example, I didn’t realize the differences between writing for one of the feature sections and one of the sections that are more about businesses and advertisers until just last week.

I just went home this previous weekend and my parents pointed out that this is the time to start looking for my next step when I graduate in December. I started to wonder if I’d be ready. I mean I know I won’t be ready in the sense that I don’t want to graduate. I’m accidentally graduating early. Of course I’m not ready. But I’m also wondering if I’m prepared to enter the field. Will I ever write a section without being reminded to not make some of my stupid mistakes?

For now, I’m going to see if I can write the Happenings section without any major or stupid mistakes. Only minor mistakes if I can’t succeed without any at all.

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by Morgan Brown

Make a Note of It Even the most organized system can’t eliminate story-related stress

Another deadline down and another collection of sticky notes off my desk.

I’ve developed a system now. Each story has a sticky note dedicated to it. On the sticky note I write down the story’s temporary title, the sources I have to contact and each of the source’s contact information. I then stick them to my hutch so that they hang right in front of my face. As I contact the sources, I cross off their names, and as I complete the stories, I draw a huge check-mark across the sticky note.

This week I had one sticky note that I made me more nervous than I had been in a long time. It wasn’t because I was nervous about the story, like one last week, but because I couldn’t contact my most important source: the lady I was profiling.

After several days and several e-mails, we had decided on a phone interview Friday morning at either 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. What I didn’t know was what time was best for her and also what her phone number was. She had yet to give it to me.

It was just hours before my article was due and I still hadn’t heard from her. My roommate kept asking me if I was alright, as I constantly clicked refresh to check for an e-mail. I clicked it so much that I was able to delete the spam messages one by one as it entered my inbox. I checked the time on my phone so often that I had to plug it in so that it wouldn’t die from my abuse.

Finally, at 11 a.m., I received an incoming call from that fancy 314 area code. First thing I thought of was that it was a phone call asking where my story was; instead, it was her!

I have no idea how she had my number, but I sure was overjoyed to hear from her. After a chat on the phone and a little food while I calmed my nerves, I wrote the story. I checked off that last sticky note just in time.

Now my desk is clean of the old notes and ready for new ones.

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by Morgan Brown

Talent or Treasure –– With or Without Time Ways of giving back seemingly are endless

Deadline! Yes, it’s deadline week for me. I lucked out. Last week was crazy with homework, quizzes and even a test. This week, however, is just for the magazine. Homework happens to be pretty light!

As my next deadline approaches, I am learning so much on philanthropy. Granted, I knew most of it already, I just didn’t realize how much there is to know. Sure, part of being in my sorority is philanthropy. My sorority has several that it supports, especially when the spring comes and we are organizing our 5K run. And then every other sorority and fraternity supports a cause or more as well. What I didn’t really realize is how much more there is out there.

In the midst of a busy schedule, people can find so many different ways to volunteer. There is practically no limit.

It also made me think about what I do. I mean, I’m taking classes and I am working with this internship, which is great, but where does my contribution to the community lie? I’m not helping girl’s club or at church events anymore, so what am I doing?

Thank goodness I do live in a sorority. Sometimes it gets hectic. Girls screaming, constant chatter and let’s not forget the meetings, but in the end, not only do I have great friends, but through our philanthropy events, we have so many ways that we give back to the community that really suit our interests and current lifestyle.

I’m sure as I get older, my contribution will change, but amid the craziness of college, I might actually have my head on straight.

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by Morgan Brown

In the Beginning New intern ready to tackle work/school responsibilities

During “welcome week” of my senior year, one of the last things I would have expected to do would be to wake up at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning and interview a source for an article I was writing. As the lady and I laughed about how it would be so nice to be sitting on the couch again as a child watching cartoons, I realized that I am finally growing up.

At one point in high school, my professor called us adults, and I argued that although most of us had turned 18, none of us were yet adults. We lived with our parents, we didn’t pay our bills, we didn’t have real jobs and we most certainly didn’t act mature, although sometimes we thought we did. I told him that I personally wouldn’t be an adult until I graduated college.

I think I may have grown up faster than I thought I would. Instead of waking up on a Saturday, rolling out of bed at noon and eventually maybe doing some of my homework before Sunday arrived, I am waking up to interviews and writing. Instead of “creeping” on Facebook as soon as I venture out of my bed, I check my e-mail to be sure that my source didn’t cancel on me or to see if I have any new assignments.

By now, you have probably realized that I’m the new fall intern for Indianapolis Woman and St. Louis Woman. Although I just started I can already tell that I am going to love this semester. It’s my final semester at Indiana University and my busiest yet, but even my friends are making comments like, “You really do love to write don’t you?” And I answer with a smile and a nod. I just hope everyone else loves my writing as well.

With my first deadline coming up, I am quite terrified. So many people are relying on me: Rebecca, the managing editor; my sources and, most importantly, the loyal magazine readers. I’m not worried about my classes –– I’ve made it this far. I’m used to them. I’ll do fine. I’m not worried about having time for the internship either. I already love it! In between classes, instead of doing last-minute reading or just wasting time surfing the Web, I’m trying to squeeze in a phone interview. I’m just hoping that I can meet –– if not exceed -- everyone’s expectations. I don’t want to let anyone down.

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Not Quite the End of the Road Internship is over, but the future shines bright

So I just finished the Fall Home section for September (which ended up being a bit easier than what I had imagined), and I sat back in my computer chair and realized I had no more assignments on my plate. You know what that means? My internship has come to an end. What a bittersweet feeling.

Although I am relieved to have a little more time to myself before starting school again at the end of August, I am going to miss being involved in the magazine industry. From being handed assignments and giving phone interviews to writing 300-word stories and editing them, the internship has been a journalistic cycle that I have enjoyed thoroughly. Like I mentioned before, I have learned so much that I never would have learned in a college class. It has made me realize that in the future I could possibly dip into the magazine world again, and I’ll have knowledge that others may not have.

Looking back, I must give myself a little bit of props. From the time summer began until now, I have divulged myself into St. Louis Woman Magazine, giving every free moment to finishing assignments. With no pay and most summer days spent inside, I am proud to say that I finished and now have the experience under my belt.

I also want to give St. Louis Woman Magazine props for the opportunity in hopes that they realize how much they have assisted me. In comparison to summer classes, the magazine has been like a school for me with Rebecca and Laura being my teachers. They have guided me on how to start/finish projects, taught me what to do in certain situations and have been great leaders for me to follow. I want to thank them for that.

Now for the future? Well, I still have a bundle of ideas on I want to do. I just know for sure that I want to finish the school semester with good grades, work more hours to save money and see where life takes me. Maybe one day I will be writing for a magazine again.

Until then, wish me luck for what’s ahead!

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by Whitney Riggs

Writing out of my comfort zone. I don’t have kids or a house, but I’m learning to write like I do.

Since I decided to stick around for another month to finish up the internship, Rebecca (managing editor) gave me my next assignment for the September issue – a fall home section. The funny thing about the stories that I have been assigned is that I have had little or no relation to them at all.

For the first section, I wrote stories about children’s health. Well, if you haven’t already figured out, I do not have any kids, and I have little interaction with them considering I live in a college town. I love kids, but it threw me off when I had to know and understand the steps to breastfeeding and what to do when children don’t get along in a household. Obviously, I turned to the best sources for the information, but it would have been helpful if I had kids of my own to understand the basics before going into it.

Then the education section threw me off again. I did do one story that dealt with the college level, but otherwise, the stories dealt with ages much younger. In order to get the story right, I put myself in the position of a parent. What would be important to me? What I would want for my kids?

I also searched the internet to get a grasp on education K-12 today. For stories I have ‘no clue’ about, I’ve learned the best thing to do is to surf the internet for awhile. Lets ideas swarm around my brain and try to develop an understanding of the basic knowledge of a topic. It can’t hurt.

And now the fall home section for September. Growing up, I lived in the same house for 18 years and then came to college. I do live in a rented house now, but it’s a dumpy, old college house with three other girls. Redecorating is something that wouldn’t even cross our minds and buying a home will not come for a few more years. Let’s just say I know very little about owning a home. Cross your fingers and wish me luck as I dive into another section!

Don’t get me wrong, I figured the stories that I would be writing about would not revolve around my interests and would probably give me a good run for my money. Although the stories are a bit out of my league, they have really helped me get a grip on branching out and introducing myself to new ideas and topics. When I am done with a story, I think of the challenges I overcame and how much information I learned through the process.

How boring would it be to write about the same things that I already know everything about? Variety and change keeps the job interesting!

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by Whitney Riggs

Refusing to Settle Look over your options before picking second-best

As August slowly nears, I decided to e-mail Rebecca (our Managing Editor) to discuss when to finalize the internship. We never actually decided a set date when I would be done, and I wanted to make sure that with my busy schedule coming up (weddings, trips home and moving into a new apartment) she would still need me to work. She mentioned me sticking around for at least another month to do one more byline for the September issue. An opportunity like that is hard to pass up. Not only will it be one more month of experience, but I can add that little extra to my resume.

Looking around at my friends that have recently graduated, I am quite content with the path that I have decided (or ended up with). Whether they are moving back home with the parentals to save money or continuing with their jobs they had through college, no one has really snatched a “real” job they love in a place about which they are excited. Since jobs are scarce all over, I see many students graduating and settling with whatever is thrown their way. I don’t want to just settle. I want to have my options.

I think the internship has helped me expand my experiences but also prolong myself from settling. If I had already graduated in May and done the internship last summer, I would be caught in a situation where I desperately need a job and must make a serious decision.

I have some advice for new graduates: R-e-l-a-x. Students need to relax, find themselves, then do the job search. If you don’t know where you want to live or what you specifically want to do in the future, then maybe an internship or side job is the best idea for a while. Any extra experience is an extra line on a resume. Plus, it helps you narrow down your options.

Since I have been working in the magazine industry, I now know what it would be like to do this for the rest of my life (or at least a glimpse of it). Is there really any rush to randomly pick a job that is willing to hire you and just settle? I know some parents may lean over your shoulders and force you to log on to Monster.com for four hours a day, but why not wait a little bit, figure out the best options and then go forward? Besides, it will be worth the wait if you end up with a great job (or internship) that will help you along your career path.

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by Whitney Riggs