Hello to all my fellow interns! I hope all of you are having an adventurous, rewarding summer!
I'm interning at the Beverly Citizen where I'm writing 2-3 feature stories per week about various events occurring in the city of Beverly, Massachusetts. Even though Beverly is only a twenty minute drive from my hometown, I'm admittedly more unfamiliar with the city than you might think. All I ever knew about Beverly before this internship was that driving in the downtown area is always a huge pain in the ass (which is a proven fact). But that's what I love about this internship. It encourages me to explore unfamiliar territory, meet interesting people, and explore new areas in the Bay State I never knew existed. And the best part? On top of everything, I get to do what I love—to write.
It's difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why I wanted an internship this summer. There were just so many elements factoring into my decision. First of all, I grew desperate to not have to experience yet again the typical summertime doldrums of a college student, which mostly includes slaving at a soulless part-time job and then spending the remainder of the summer sleeping/watching movies on Netflix (although those two things are quite enjoyable). I wanted something new and I realized if I didn't attempt to get an internship, I'd spend the summer as a miserable couch potato, wondering why my friends are doing cool career-related things as I waste my life and refuse to do a thing about it. Also influencing my decision to get an internship was my semester abroad in Dublin, Ireland. I was forced to encounter all my little fears and anxieties about living in a foreign country over the course of five months and when it ended, I said to myself, "Well, if I can conquer all of that in five months, what else can I tackle in my life?" I fear less things now than ever before, and the thought of getting an internship didn't make me shake in my boots as much as, say, when I first arrived in Dublin.
The Beverly Citizen was actually the first place I applied to, so I'm somewhat lucky in that regard. My editor, Natalie Miller, is young and energetic. I wasn't expecting someone so young to be the editor of a news publication. I don't spend much actual time in the Beverly Citizen offices. When I say I'm out in the field, I am literally out in the field, driving around Beverly and speaking to people. I do have to go into the offices every Wednesday at 3 for story meetings. Wednesday is also deadline day, and it's important I'm more alert and attentive than usual.
I'd tell you about the stories I've been working over the past few weeks in lengthy paragraphs, but I'd rather not bore you with all of that and thought it would be better I told you through bullet points because I have a perverted obsession with bullet points.
* Jason Maxwell Honored at the One Hundred: Jason Maxwell is a Beverly business owner who, after years of watching his family and friends suffer from cancer, launched the nonprofit fundraising venture Fed Up With Cancer. Fed Up With Cancer has raised over $10,000 in cancer research and awareness over the past three years. Maxwell was honored Massachusetts General Hospital's One Hundred event, which honors 100 people each year for their efforts in the fight against cancer. It's really inspiring stuff. I got to speak with Maxwell personally, who was honored to have his story told.
* Beverly Farmer's Market: Okay, this was fun. I got to attend the Beverly Farmer's Market on its opening day and speak with a few of the vendors. The most interesting vendor I spoke with was an herbalist who sells herbs that improve well being. The herbalist said her favorite herb was schizandra, an adaptogen that relieves stress. Man, I need that stuff.
* Casa de Moda Unveils Mural: Casa de Moda is an alternative gift store known for selling cards, art supplies, and accessories. They unveiled a new mural on the side of their store called "Calle Casa" painted by Phillip Coleman, a local artist. The mural is inspired by the street art of various European cities, which made me happy to hear because it reminded me of the mural I saw on my trip to Belfast. The real highlight of this story was me getting lost on my way to the store and violating traffic laws.
*Porter Mill Art Exhibition: Porter Mill is an art gallery housing four floors of studios featuring fifty artists around the North Shore and Greater Boston area. They hold an exhibition every summer. I got to speak with several of Porter Mill's artists and gaze at their beautiful artwork. One artist is a fashion photographer who took photos of models wearing plastic animal masks in abandoned cottages in Rhode Island. It's weird but, hey, I like weird.
Now, here's a tiny list of things I'm not enjoying right now . . .
* Bouncing between my Comcast and Champlain email has been rough so far. I've mainly worked on my Comcast email yet that means I miss important messages in Champlain email. I need to get better at managing that. But, right now, it's frustrating.
*Bouncing between my internship and part time job at a grocery store has also been rough. It's an interesting dilemma— do I spend more time doing something career-oriented I enjoy and don't get paid or do I spend more time doing something I don't enjoy yet get paid? Hmmmm . . .
*Also, driving through downtown Beverly is a pain in the ass. Did we already establish that?
Hi Cam,
ReplyDeleteI have missed you! So glad to hear your writing voice again and see that you have found something to do other than wilt away at Market Basket this summer.
It's amazing that you've done so many stories and interviews already--sounds like they had you jump right in. As you've been there longer and longer, are you finding that it's the kind of newspaper business you like or are you wishing to experience other types as well? Are there any things you want to really get better at or do more of before the end of the summer?
As I wrote in my comment to Jillian's second post, being out in the community is one of the best parts of community journalism. Glad to read this about too, Cameron.
ReplyDeleteI noted your surprise at Natalie's youth. Those of you I had in Fundamentals of Journalism no doubt heard me say that community journalism is one of the best ways to break into the writing field if you're inclined in that direction. Turnover among reporters is high, and the higher-ups are always looking for ambitious reporters ready to take on the challenge.
The others may not know that the Online newspapers in the greater Boston area - hundreds of them - are owned by one company, and it's probably the case nationwide. Community newspapers are cash cows. Don't let anyone tell you that print is dead. It's alive and well at the community level, and morphing there and at every other level. The people who get its potential are doing what Sarah's company - Providence Media - are doing. Branching out into all genres.
Are you taking your own pictures?