Aaliyah Gibson
LinkedIn
Graduation Year: May 2017
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Campus Activities
- Assistant Editor and Columnist for the Arts and Entertainment section of Buzz Magazine
- Writer for Smile Politely Magazine
- Writer for The Black Sheep
Hobbies: Writing and filming short comedic videos, reading, writing creative short stories
Internship: H.A.S. Magazine - Writer
What were your duties?
I assisted the Editor-in-Chief by conducting research on possible artists that would be interviewed for the magazine. I also live-tweeted during Chicago's Chive Musical Festival. I was given the chance to personally contact musicians playing at Chicago's Lollapalooza Music Festival and arranged interviews where I personally got to talk to performers on and off camera.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I enjoyed all of the hands-on experience. I was used to working with a team of people to get an assignment completed, but being an intern at H.A.S. Magazine taught me how to seek out what was popular or trending and find a way to cover it best all on my own. It was very independent work, but great work all the same.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The part I enjoyed the most was also the most difficult part in the beginning. My editor was there to assist me along the way, but I placed myself in a media tent at Lollapalooza among much larger and known publications. I was working independently to get the job done in a brand new environment.
How did your experience at Illinois and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
There are so many different publications on campus that students can write for. Whether you prefer satire, traditional news, or coverage on a local band that you love, there is always a way to get involved and to put your voice out there for the campus to see.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
Working for H.A.S. taught me how to work independently and diligently to get a job done when it needs to be done. It also taught me to have fun with my work. Now I know that I love working in front of and behind cameras and it also helped me to really realize that I want to be a writer before anything else. I learned it doesn't matter whether you're a little tadpole or the big shot when you're writing an article or even interviewing someone. It's all about how much effort you put into your work and your craft.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Do it! Do it! Do it! Whether it's a small start-up or Apple, do an internship to gain experience and to figure out what you really love. It also looks great on resumes! This summer I will be interning at The Hollywood Reporter in Los Angeles, California and (fingers crossed) E!News!
Click here to view all archived Internship Spotlights