internship spotlight
Annabeth Carlson
Graduation Year (list as "Month Year")
May 2017
Major
Broadcast Journalism
Minor
English
Hometown
Edwardsville, Illinois
Campus Activities
Managing editor for online at The Daily Illini, Delta Gamma sorority
Hobbies
Reading, writing, tennis, working on my fashion blog stylebyannabeth.com.
Twitter
@annabethcarlson
Instagram
@stylebyannabeth
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabethcarlson/
Employer
The New York Times
Internship Title
Dow Jones News Fund Copy Editing Intern
What were your duties?
-Copy edited features content (styles, dining and travel) for grammar, accuracy and New York Times style
-Worked with reporters, slotters and desk editors to discuss proposed changes to articles
-Crafted creative, eye-catching headlines, decks, pull-quotes and social media posts
-Completed Dow Jones News Fund residency in May to prepare for the internship and received scholarship
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
This was the best internship experience I have ever had. There are so many things I enjoyed. I think the main thing would be that they treated me like a normal employee and I got to edit the same content as editors who worked there. I also got to be involved in publishing decisions, like whether a story was ready or not, and got to work with the reporters, other editors and designers, which means I got to meet a ton of people! I also worked for the styles section (dining, fashion and travel) so I got to edit content about things I am really interested in.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most difficult part of the internship was the training week. It was a weeklong residency at Temple University where I had to memorize the AP style guide, NYT style guide, not to mention the map of the world. We pulled all-nighters all week to learn everything and then were tested each day. However it made the internship much easier because I felt like an editing pro afterward. Also navigating New York was a bit difficult at first but super fun too!
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
I could not have had this opportunity without Jean McDonald, who proctors the Dow Jones test every year. Also, Jessica Hogue at Media Career Services always gives me such valuable advice about resumes, cover letters, internshipdecisions, etc.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
This internship helped get me out of my comfort zone and made me realize I can move across the country and be happy and successful. It also helped me develop crucial networking skills and helped me learn to make decisions under pressure (which has also helped this year while in a leadership role at The Daily Illini).
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Apply early and apply everywhere! Every year I usually apply to 20 internships and then hear from about five at the most. Don't have crazy big expectations for your first internship. You will probably not love it but it will be a stepping stone to better opportunities. Also, I highly recommend taking the Dow Jones News Fund copy editing test if you enjoy editing. It is such helpful program and I learned skills I will use the rest of my life.
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