Read on to find more about these seemingly easy steps to ace your internship in the print industry.
Ask questions
Remember, you are the newbie and it is okay for you to questions which would otherwise sound silly to your co-workers, who obviously know the workings of the organisation better than you do. So swallow that fear and ask a friendly co-worker about your queries.
Also, if your editor has handed you an assignment personally, make it a point to ask exactly what s/he wants. You don’t want mess up this grand opportunity.
Be curious, be observant
Do you know when the magazine is put to bed? The style guide of your organisation? The sub-editting process? These are just a few of the many things that you should know by the end of your first week of internship. Ask your superior if there’s anything you’ve missed out on.
Never miss a deadline!
Ever wondered why we use “dead” in the word “deadline”? Well, if you have a knack for missing deadlines, your career in this industry is already dead. Organising yourself is key here.
Show enthusiasm
If you want to write on things that you like but have been handed down a fluff piece to write, give it your best and make it the best fluff piece your editor has ever seen. Use this opportunity for you to be noticed. Now that your boss knows your ability, s/he would surely have more faith in you.
Pitch your article ideas
When you pitch an idea to your boss, it speaks volumes. It shows that you are taking initiative as well as it allows you to work on something that interests you. Don’t forget to think outside the box for story ideas and try to think of different angles to articles that have already been published.
Make sure you have a clear idea before you approach your editor, you don’t want to draw a blank when you are telling her or him your idea. Internet can be a great tool when it comes to research. If you do not find much online, get out, ask around and you will get almost anything you require.
Take feedback with an open mind
Ask for your editor’s feedback on your writing regularly. While good feedback will keep you on track and motivated, a bad response should not demoralise you entirely. If anything, the pointers you get from your previous attempt should motivate you further to make a solid comeback and reassure your superiors that they have a fighter on their team. If you want to improve your writing skills, sit by your sub-editor and s/he can point out your areas to improve while editing your piece.
Collect and preserve
No matter what you write, be sure to track down a hard copy or an online version for the future. Do this for all of your work, especially the ones that you think are your best and make a portfolio out of them.
While all the above points may make you feel that you are headed into slavery, be assured that you are not. Journalism, in any capacity, can be an exiciting career choice; the longer you work hard in this industry, the further you can climb up the ranks.
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