internship spotlight
Madeline Wilson
Graduation Year
May 2017
Major
News Editorial Journalism
Hometown
Overland Park, Kansas
Campus Activities
James Scholar, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority
Hobbies
Music, Literature, Travel, Film, Photoshop
Twitter
@maddyguinan
LinkedIn
Employer
Andrews McMeel Universal
Internship Title
Publicity Intern
What were your duties?
As the publicity intern at Andrews McMeel, I was in charge of writing and executing the press releases for various novels, cookbooks, gift books and poetry collections. I designed the press releases using Photoshop and Indesign and also wrote the content. On top of this, I coordinated and mailed internationally requested review copies, helped with the mailing for the Kids Rate Books program, and also the press materials for specific events. As an intern, you get to sit in on meetings and help with various administrative tasks as well. Publishing is high energy, and the work done by the interns proves it.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I loved that I felt I was actually contributing to a finished product. At Andrews McMeel, I was challenged with real assignments, rather than just feeling like I was doing busy work. The office, located in downtown Kansas City, is one of the most incredible spaces I've ever seen, which was certainly an added bonus.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
There was so much that I felt I could do, but unfortunately as an intern I was limited to the usual time constraints that come with taking on a 2 month internship. A couple of the larger projects the interns worked on were not completed, but it was extremely satisfying looking back on the work we did and knowing how big of a contribution we made.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
The College of Media is unique in that the staff cares about every student individually. I felt that, in my classes, my professors truly wished to see me learn and succeed rather than just walk away with a good grade. The communication and software (adobe suite) skills I learned in my classes really carried me through my internship.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
My internship showed me what a true work environment is like. I think that we can learn a lot in classes, yes, but true experience is the most important thing that a person can gain before going in to the real world. Being treated like an adult who is genuinely part of the team as you learn is extremely beneficial, and my time at Andrews validated this.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Don't stop looking! Like I said, experience is so, so important. There are hundreds of internships out there, and you may really learn to love something that you didn't think about before. I can honestly say that my career path has been completely changed, and if I had not taken a leap and applied for this internship, then I might have cruised through school and chosen a job that I don't feel passionate about.
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