Employer
The New York Times
Internship Title
Dow Jones Multiplatform Editing Intern
What were your duties?
I was in charge of copy editing about three to four stories a day on the metro desk. I would edit the stories, write online headlines, create Facebook posts and tweets, change the story URL for SEO and write photo captions.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I enjoyed being treated just like any full-time editor on the desk. I was given the opportunity to edit and then publish stories directly to the NYT's website.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most difficult aspect was getting accustomed to a larger-scale newsroom. My previous experience came from The Daily Illini, so getting used to working at a paper like The New York Times took some adjusting.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
I would not have been able to succeed at this internship if not for my time at The Daily Illini. I have worked at the paper since my freshman year, and I have held many different positions during that time. I took my experience from there and directly applied it to my work at the Times.
My time in the College of Media also helped me. The coursework I had while I was a journalism student is what helped me to get the internship in the first place. My education here prepared me for the Dow Jones test, and I don't think I would have attained the internship if not for Illinois.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
My internship helped prepare me for my career by allowing me to experience firsthand what I would like to do in the future. I want to be copy editor, and my internship at the Times allowed me to see what that would be like. I had the opportunity to do the same work as a full-time editor, and it was the best learning experience.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Take advantage of every opportunity while you're at your internship. Talk to people who are outside of your department, and learn from everyone you can.
