Annabeth Carlson
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Graduation Year: May 2017
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Minor: English
Hometown: Edwardsville, Illinois
Campus Activities:
Assistant Features Editor at The Daily Illini
Director of Special Events at Delta Gamma - Iota Chapter
Hobbies: Creating content for my fashion blog: stylebyannabeth.com
Internship: Editorial Intern - NBC Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times Splash magazine
What were your duties?
-Wrote editorials about Chicago parties, weddings, restaurants, fashion trends and more
-Conducted and transcribed phone interviews
-Edited both print and online content for grammar, accuracy and AP style
-Crafted attention-grabbing social media posts
-Put together "lookbooks" of photoshoot ideas and assisted at shoots
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
My favorite part of my internship was all of the reporting experience. I did not expect that my supervisors would let me set up and conduct my own interviews for stories. It was great to have that truThe most difficult aspect of the internship was crafting catchy social media posts. I did not have any professional social media experience prior to the internship, so I definitely learned a lot about what can draw readers in, and the importance of having a professional social media presence to share your stories.
How did your experience at Illinois and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
My multimedia class with Brian Johnson definitely prepared me for this internship when I was creating "lookbooks" for Splash photo shoots. He always had us think creatively about the different shots you should get, and I kept this in mind when thinking of ideas. Also, my former job as assistant copy chief and current job as assistant features editor at The Daily Illini definitely gave me the editing experience and understanding of deadlines that I needed when editing and writing at Splash.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
This was my dream internship! I have always wanted to work for a magazine, and Splash covered all of my favorite subjects: fashion, entertainment, dining, weddings, etc. Working at Splash really showed me that it was possible to bring my passion for fashion and entertainment news into a career.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Apply early and apply to a lot of internships. And don't get discouraged! I applied to 13 internships and only heard back from two companies! Have an open mind, because any internship experience will give you the professional experience that will bring you closer to your future goals.
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