Working at a community newspaper is one of the great learning experiences an intern can have. IGS has a long history of helping students publish original articles during their internship. Students have published restaurant reviews, theater openings, political events like Hillary Clinton’s visit to Australia, and the effect of climate change on the local harbor and businesses.
In addition to storytelling, there is a strong marketing component. You will work with the staff to promote the paper using a wide range of media platforms. Uploading content to social media, promoting Facebook pages, sending out “tweets” are all part of the marketing process. A couple of our interns were key in opening up a new territory in the city for the paper. They met with local businesses and negotiated rights to display the paper on the premises.
The beauty of community newspaper work is that it provides an in-depth look into a foreign culture from the inside out. You get to see the issues that are important to the city and its citizens. Comparing that to your home paper and local concerns is a cross-cultural experience that few have.