Sarah - Post-1-tada

I will follow Kristen.

Hiya, let’s just jump right in.

 This summer I am interning at Providence Media as an editorial intern. They are essentially the publishing house of a variety of magazines in the state of RI (where I’m from), which include Providence Monthly, East Side Monthly, The Bay, SORhodeIsland, and SoBlockIsland. I work under the Executive Editor, Julie Tremaine, and the Associate Editor, Grace Lentini. They are hella good bosses, and my work relationship with them is laidback, casually cool and informative. There isn’t any of that tight-ass professionalism, more of a mutual respect for their experience and insight. They are both relatively young, quirky and insert the occasional, humorous, well-timed swearing smack down at the frustrations and pressures that come with the publishing business. Best boss scenario.

            I’ve actually been working at Providence Media since May 6^th; and I work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10-4pm. The times are super accommodating due to the hell ride that is Providence traffic (Despite the name, the office is in Pawtucket, which is past Providence). There were fewer interns when I originally began because we get out so early, but now there is a healthy gang of us. Having worked so many summers alongside people 20-30 years my age, some other people in my own psychotic age group is nice. Favorite people so far are Courtney and Jacks, two other editorial interns who are widely entertaining. Lunch time consists of reading missed connections on craigslist for kicks, or picking something up from the vegan ice cream truck that randomly parks itself outside the building.

            So what do I do there? Lots! I copy edit, edit and fact-check pages, from start to finish for the different magazines; I write blurbs for our dining guides on various restaurants in the area; I do photo requests and credits from small local business to production companies; I pick up taste test for us(get reimbursed); I conduct interviews and write articles, blurbs and front matter stuff as well. Once in a blue moon I do basic clerical stuff like answer phones and weigh the mail. The writing style varies with each magazine. East Side Monthly is more casual, while Providence Monthly is more professional. I guess you can kind of think about each magazine in terms of Seven Days-ish-ness, but monthly. The office is funky and colorful; the people are creative and quirky. The only complaint I can think of is the meetings they have in the mornings that drag on sometimes. But honestly, it just lets me focus on doing this side of the internship and the logs.   

            Honestly, the fact that I’m enjoying this internship so much sort of reinforces the focus I think I’m drifting towards with my writing. It’s such an outgoing side of writing, and as stressful as it may seem at times, it makes the day entertaining.

            One of my favorite things we do at my work is the monthly taste tests. We pick a foodie theme for each month to write about in The Bay, Providence Monthly, and SORhodeIsland. We call four businesses and ask them if they would like to donate food for about ten people for us to write about. We schedule pickups throughout the month, and we write notes on what we like about the things we try. I’m sorry, but what’s better than having some of the best food in the state for free? BOOM, NOTHING! Last month we did smoothies, but I wrote this month’s on clam cakes and clam chowder; delicious! For SORhodeIsland we are doing crab cakes this month, I think.

            Given the freedom of the publications, there is no real politics involved in what we do and do not write. From gay marriage to environmental cleanup to food – it varies!

            I look forward to going to work, what’s better than that?