In summer 2020, I was an editorial intern at聽Portland Monthly聽Magazine. I am a Liberal Arts major, minoring in Communications Studies and Hispanic Studies. My choice of study arises from the goal for a broad worldview in the scope of the written word and the humanities. As an aspiring journalist and non-fiction writer, my field of study gives me the chance to learn about history, culture, and different ways of telling a story. This objective is precisely what I sought to achieve at my internship at聽Portland Monthly.
Portland Monthly聽is a magazine based in Portland, Maine. The publication reports on local events, music, food, history, and culture. Articles feature stories of historical importance, cultural relevance, or just interesting facts and quirks about Maine. I would confidently say that聽Portland Monthly, as a publication and as a group of writers and editors, has its finger on the pulse of the city and state. There is a little bit of everything, from new restaurant openings and event listings to interviews with local celebrities.
My role at聽Portland Monthly聽varied based on the day. I had a wide array of responsibilities as an intern. My daily tasks included proof-reading, fact-checking articles, doing research assignments, tracking local events, and cold-calling sources for quotes. The highlight of my experience at聽Portland Monthly聽was my first major story assignment. I was tasked with researching and writing about a famous art collection from a local painter in Kennebunkport. I threw myself into the work, finding it absolutely enthralling to track down sources, secure interviews, and find primary sources through the local libraries and historical societies. Although I have conducted interviews before, this was my first 鈥渞eal鈥� interview on assignment, which was very exciting. The article was published in October 2020.
Although I did not receive academic credit for this position, I learned a lot about the magazine publishing business and the writing process. This knowledge will undoubtedly shape my career as a writer. I have a more acute knowledge of how publications survive financially, how editors keep track of their sources, how editorial strategies are carried through, and how a culture and a place can be transported onto the page for a given audience. I have a more secure vision of my future career as a magazine writer now that I have been equipped with the experience from this internship. Plus, I have a great appreciation and love for the state of Maine.
The remote nature of the internship was at times a blessing and at other times a curse. The increased flexibility with scheduling and the lack of commute was a definite plus. However, a lack of accountability made it easy to be distracted and I often yearned for a real office workspace. To combat these issues, I made schedules for myself and created my own designated workspace.
The funding was also instrumental to the success of my internship. Although it was remote, I was still staying in Maine and had to pay for food and rent. Without the John Wasileski Externship Awards, I would not have been able to have a place to stay to do the internship. My time at聽Portland Monthly聽was a fruitful experience that has led me to many important insights, many of which will be useful in my future career.
I would like to thank Mr. Wasileski, for supporting聽me through such an amazing opportunity. Among friends, family, and the amazing people at聽Portland Monthly, I have the 捆绑SM社区 International Experience Awards founders and聽Mr. Wasileski聽to thank for making this all possible.
