Joe Grimm's News Jobs Café: Ask the recruiter

Leave Without Two-Week Notice?

Q: I recently graduated college and have been interning at a large metro in the meantime while I look for jobs. I went to a job interview in another state for a couple of days and told my editors and the internship recruiter that I was doing so.

When I returned from the job interview, I told my editor that if I am offered the job then I might have to start immediately and leave within a week (that was a week ago). Yesterday I was offered the job. I accepted and told my internship coordinator and editor that I would have to leave after the end of this week.

They both congratulated me and said that it would be fine. However, at the end of the day the internship recruiter called me into the office and said that I should put in a two weeks notice because I am putting them in a bind if I leave after this week.

I honestly understand the need for a two-week notice, but if I wait for two weeks then I might not be able to do the job (they need someone to start immediately because of beat changes).  Also, for financial reasons, a job is the best logical step for me to take right now. The internship is supposed to last another month and a half. Also, I'm really not getting much work to do here; the editor is struggling to find stories for me to do. Some people have told me that I need to do what is best financially and what is best for my career.. and also what will make me the happiest.  If I do what is best financially, career-wise and for emotional happiness - all answers are leaning toward leaving at the end of the week for the job.

What would you advise me to do? I completely understand the professional two-week notice, but if I'm not working on many stories anyway and it seems more of a trouble for the editor to find something for me to do, and if I'm stuck eating Ramen noodles all day, then wouldn't a job seem logical? Shouldn't the internship recruiter be happy that I am going to take a job?

Thanks,

Betwixt and Between

A: You are in a mild bind that does not appear to be of your own making.

As you describe things, you first told the editor you might have to leave suddenly, and there was no objection. You then told two editors you would be leaving right away and there was no objection. By the time the internship recruiter told you that a two-week notice would be better, you had already committed to the new paper.

I would meet with the recruiting editor and explain that you understand a two-week notice is standard, but that you had asked for some leeway and met no objection -- until later.

I should think that your present editors do want to see you succeed and that you want to maintain good relations with them. Limit your discussion to this sequence of events. Telling them that they have you on Ramen wages or that they can't keep you busy enough will not help your cause and could ultimately turn a graceful departure into an ugly one.

Hang your whole story on the change in signals, be gracious and go to that new job.

Overcoming My Young Age

Q: I'm a second-semester freshman who was admitted to a school of journalism directly, with most of my prerequisites filled by high school AP tests and dual enrollment classes. Because of these things, it's likely that I will be able to graduate with a dual degree (in Political Science) in three years, and I have been encouraged to do so or to take advantage of study abroad programs by advisers. But I'm a journalism student - and that's what I came to Missouri to pursue.

However, I know that without clips and internship experience, I'll have a difficult time finding employment once I get that degree. I'm on staff at the college paper, and have lots of clips -- some that recruiters from large, respected papers have told me are as strong as older applicants. I wrote for a large, professional paper in high school, by opportunities afforded to me in a teen section.

However, my internship search keeps coming back to the fact that I'm young, and I'm still without any form of internship, after applying to a variety of papers for Summer 2007.

How do I convince recruiters that I am serious, though perhaps young, and let them know that my relative age isn't a discredit?

Jay S.

A: You sound serious to me, but you may well be facing an age problem.

You're at a great journalism school and it would not surprise me if some of the other students who have a year or more on you are having more success.

Keep plugging. Stay confident. Recruiters remember people who show promise early. Get as many interviews as you can. And keep going after internships.

You are dead right that trying to start a journalism career without any experience in a mainstream, conventional daily face a much harder time breaking in.

A semester overseas sounds like a great idea. And graduating a full year early will help the budget, but if you have to sacrifice an internship in order to do it, it will cost you in other ways.

Work for a State Representative?

Q: I missed a couple newspaper internship deadlines earlier this month so I'm starting to formulate some backup plans for this summer. I've become really interested in political/government reporting recently so I was thinking about working for a state representative and seeing the other side of the coin so to speak.

Do you think that's a good idea? It could be a useful experience for future assignments, but I'm not sure. I want to be a news journalist out of college and this job could make me look like a biased reporter.

As always, interested to hear what you think,

Keegan, University of Wisconsin-Madison journalism student

A: That can certainly be a legitimate path. It is not as good as having a reporting internship, but it is better than working in neither journalism nor the subject area where you want to specialize.

I know you have broadened your summertime goals beyond journalism. Also be sure to open up your search in terms of location and circulation size. A newsroom internship would be best for the career you describe, so don't give up on that yet.

One place you can look for more leads is the internship directory on the Web site of the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" has moved to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Remember to change your bookmark.

Too Old for an Internship?

Q: As I get older I find that whether a newspaper doesn't like you often depends on how your skills fit their organization's needs. Part of it is the company, part of it is what kind of shape that company's in economically at the time, so I take a lack of interest less personally now than I did before, although some of the interviews I had I could have handled better.

That's also why it's good to have those interviews -- you can use it as a self-improvement exercise.

Two newspapers I respect quite a bit seemed to like me but had no forseeable openings. A third newspaper for whom I really, really want to work, which is a major urban daily sized me up and said that I looked good, but the only way they'd consider putting me on the staff is if I interned there first.

At first I felt a little jilted, not because of my educational credentials but because I already have about seven years of newsroom experience at serious small-circ dailies. The more I think about it, though, I'm warming up to the idea. Three months is a short time in the grand scheme of things. I would be paid, and it would get my foot in the door for a full-time job after that at a destination paper.

But I can see some downside to interning. I'm in my early thirties. If I finish my internship with no job offer, it could well look like I'm just spinning my wheels -- a career student with no focus.

My mom and dad, who are easily old enough to be grandparents by now, aren't thrilled with this idea, and I honestly can't say I blame them. What do you think? Am I too old to intern? Should I just try to get the best staff job I can, or should I ply the internship strategy and hope for serious gains afterward?

Grad Student

Age should be no barrier do working an internship, but the fact that you already have a lot of full-time experience could make an internship look like a step back, even though it would beat a much larger paper.

I would want to have the very clear sense that there is a good chance of a job at the end. Without the job, you'll pretty much be in the place where you are now with an additional paper that saw you work, but didn't hire you. The overall pattern of your resume could look like your career is on a downward arc.

So, talk to the editors at the big paper and explain your concerns. If a real job looks like less than a 50-50 proposition, I'd look for a full time job, even though it may be at a smaller newspaper.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" is moving to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Internships for Professors?

Q: I am an ex-journalist (almost 18 years in print, with experience in online and documentary filmmaking) who is now a college professor. I have been out of the field for five years.

I would like to spend a summer as an intern somewhere, reconnecting with the field so that my skills stay fresh and relevant. Are there such internships?

Donna

A: Oh! We're just a year too late. For 11 years, the Knight Foundation funded a program througthe American Society of Newspaper Editors that did just that. Sadly, the 2006 class was the last.

The best journalism professor I ever had, Paul Jess, way back in his days at the University of Michigan, used to spend his summers on the copy desk at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He loved it. They had vacations in the summers and they seemed happyto have an experienced hand filling in.

It could be that, without any kind of program, your academic calendar and you skills in new media and filmmaking could wind up nicely matching a newsroom's needs and you could help each other out. Make some calls.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" is moving to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Explaining a Bad Internship?

Q: Thanks for keeping up with this great advice column. Not all internship experiences are great. I'm sure many interns learn to cope with these situations, but sometimes office politics or an inattentive editor can make an internship frustrating. My question is how honest should you be when other recruiters ask about how well your internship went. What if you really did not enjoy working at the newspaper you interned at?

Jennifer

A: I'm sorry your internship was a disappointment. That can be rough.

You should always be honest in an interview, of course, but you can also be brief. Time spent on troubles in your past is time taken from talking about future possibilities.

If someone asks how things went, tell them you wish things had gone better. Briefly explain what the trouble was and then say what you wish you been able to achieve, whether that was playing above the politics or engaging your editor. Explain what you learned or how you grew. Try to move the interview on.

The last thing you want to do in an interview with one editor is go on a rant about another.

 

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" is moving to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Here's hoping your next internship or job goes much better.

Quit Internship in Mexico City?

Q: I have a post-graduate internship at a Spanish language newspaper in Mexico, but I hate it. I am not fluent in Spanish, but am proficient.

I don't really do anything and sometimes question if my editors even know I am here. For several hours each day I hit the refresh button on CNN.com. For the other few hours, I write briefs. I have talked to my editors about giving me more things to do but feel like they forget that I am even here. It's been almost two months and no bylines. I have two more months to go.

I am at a crossroads, I know that for the next two months I will be miserable if I stay, but if I leave, I am afraid I will look unprofessional. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Melanie

A: It sounds like you bought a lemon.

I understand that you feel you are wasting your time, but I am wondering about a couple of other things. Namely, is it causing you financial hardship to be there and, if you leave, what will you do?

Unless you're losing fistfuls of money, and if you don't have any better offers right now, I'd do three things:

 

• Keep trying to turn the situation around.
• Start your search for a permanent job.
• Enjoy Mexico City while you're there.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" is moving to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Itching to Write?

Q: I just found your blog and I love it. I spent a good amount of time reading it and learning many new things.

I'm in a tough situation. I'm a sophomore in college at a small private school. I'm from Detroit. I love to write, it's my passion and my biggest hobby. I have self-published two books and am working on one more. I have experience with programs such as InDesign and Photoshop having used them to help write, design and publish a newsletter for a large club I belonged to. I've designed and maintain a large and popular amusement park fan site. My point is, college is really frustrating for me. I wasn't allowed to take journalism until this year, and when I am in math or science class I feel lost and  -- well, as immature as it may sound -- I just I want to write.

Ever since spending the day with a travel reporter a few years back, I knew I wanted to be a journalist (not so much a travel report but just in general) and my mind or my goals haven't changed since. Everything I did, from the trips I take to interesting things I hear --  I always see a story in it.

I'm just the kind of guy that likes to write and share stories and information he learns. I'm even in the process of creating a blog to write stories about Detroit just to get them "out there." The school newspaper here is a joke -- the students know it, and the faculty knows it, so I don't have a lot of "help" with that outlet. College, after aid, is costing me $14,000 a year. Everyone here is telling me I can't get an internship until the end of my junior year ... I want to make contacts, get in the know, and most importantly write before that!

Help! I feel lost/trapped at college, not to mention it is costing me big time. I've tried to freelance numerous times and had no luck. Is it worth it for me to pay upwards of $14,000 a year to get a "communications" degree? Am I better off attending a school in state that may not have as much prestige but would get me a degree for a much cheaper price? Do I have any options as a college student without a degree in being a journalist? I very much so want to be an intern and know the value there, I'm just looking at the big picture?

Andrew

A: Finish college. You'll regret it if you don't.

But, yes, think about transferring. The journalism business cares more about what you do than where you went.

So, it is time to get busy -- at your present school paper if necessary -- to get some publishing experience. We always admire people who roll up their sleeves and get involved in fixer-uppers.

You absolutely do not need to wait until your junior year to get an internship. Start applying now, but realize that you'll likely need to have half a dozen published clips to land one. That is where the school paper can be useful.

Keep up your on-line activities. More and more newspapers are embracing the internet as another publishing platform and your design and new-media skills will be prized.

And try to pay attention in math and science classes. The best journalists know a little about a lot of things -- not just journalism.

Breaking in Without Experience?

Q: So I always hear the same thing: If you want to go into journalism, get an internship in college! Well, here I am, six months out of college, and I've finally gotten it together enough to know for sure that I want to go into journalism. I've had plenty of good jobs and I consider myself very qualified to do a lot of things.

Unfortunately, I've never had a job working for a newspaper, even at my university. I'm now making it on my own in New York, and I can't afford to have an unpaid internship. However, without one, it feels like no one wants to hire me. What do you think that I should do to break into the journalism world?

Thanks so much,

Alex

A: This is a tough one. You've decided to break into one of the most competitive journalism markets in the world with no experience and you need to get paid right away.

You have several choices, all difficult:

 

• Move to a market where there is far less competition.
• Get published. Freelance for newspapers, magazines or Web sites and get paid per piece. Even they will expect you to have some demonstrable experience, but if you start with the small ones that pay less, you might fly under the competitive radar.
• Go back to school. Work for the student paper, this time, and use off-semesters to get the internships you missed the first time.

None of these solutions is easy, I know. You have put yourself into a difficult position and will have to change something about it to make any headway.

Newspaper internship or job?

Q: I just recently wrapped up a hell of a three-month internship at a 75,000 daily. I got an opportunity to do a lot, in sports as well as features and news, everyone was very supportive, and the editors and I collaborated closely when my stories were edited.

I had previously had trouble getting internships earlier in my career, so I just freelanced. I am the head sports writer for our campus weekly, and also did stringer work for a small daily nearby

My question is that since I am about to graduate and have bills (student loans, etc.) I will need to pay, would it be best if I try for another internship at a big gun (like the Free Press) or just shoot for a full-time job at a mid-sizer after graduation?

Also, when talking to sports editors for a writing position, should I list the fact that I play football in college, or is it really irrelevant? I would think that it could only help.

Christian

A: Congratulations!

And now it's time to pay the bills ... Wehere newspapers are concerned, you can actually find some internships that pay better than some newspapers' jobs. They key question, though, will not be who is paying the most, but what is available to tyou. It sounds as though you're fraduating in December. There can be no good in waiting around till summer to do an internship, so I would be looking for a job orinternship that will start soon after you graduate. In many cases, internships are offered with much more lead time than jobs, and they tend to happen much more frequently in the summer. For a winter graduation, search for jobs and internships simultaneously.

And I'd add the bit about being a player. It shouldn't hurt and might help.

Interns start blog

Interns at the Spokane Spokesman-Review have a good thing going.

They are doing a group blog that tells other people about their internship and how to land one.

Shefali Kulkarni, left, pitched the idea as a piggyback to the transparent newsroom initiative.

On the blog, she writes, "if you show interest in multiple departments at the newspaper you're working for, you just might have new opportunities open up to you."

See what else she, Somer, Sam, Parker, Jared, Shadra, Sasha, Sarah and Carrie have to say.

A last summer to enjoy?

Q: I am a college senior who will be graduating with an English degree because my university has no journalism department. However, I have spent four years as a beat reporter working for my school newspaper, writing anywhere from two to five stories a week. I had a reporting internship two summers ago at my small hometown newspaper, and an editorial internship at a national news magazine last summer. I have a few clips from my internships, but the majority are from my daily college newspaper. Ideally, I would like to find a reporting job at a small daily newspaper pretty much anywhere, rural or urban.

But, I would like the summer free for certain family obligations, as well as one last chance to visit home. Will I be putting myself in a bad position if I wait until June or July to apply for reporting jobs? I'm worried that all of the recent college grads will already be on top of every reporting job out there. However, I know that no newspaper will wait around until August for me if I apply before I graduate. Should I try to balance my family obligations with work as an intern or stringer at my local paper this summer and get a few more clips? Or is it best to pin down a job as soon as possible?

Anna

A: I understand your dilemma, and would like to see you working, too.

I think you have already discovered the best strategy: working as an intern or very bsy stringer as you stay near your family. That is Plan A. If you can do that, you will not need to choose between career and family. You will have both.

Now, then. You are correct to surmise that no one will offer you a job prior to graduation that they will be content to sit on until August. They'll most likely want you to start withing a few weeks. I cannot say, however, that you will be losing your chance for a good career start if you delay your real search till late summer. You could be fine, especially if you can find a way to spend most of your summer doing journalism. So don't worry too much about that. It is diffucult to get a career started, but I don't see the summer as having any advantage over autumn.

As if you don't have enough to think about, let me suggest a third course: Try to get a job, a really good one, to start when you graduate. Apply only for jobs that would clearly be better than the family option. If you can land that great job, go for it. But if you don't, you can spend that time with your family, doing as much journalism as you can, confident that you took a good crack at starting your career, but that you'll take another crack at it -- using that flexibility you have -- at the end of the summer.

Deadline creep

This month's issue of Presstime, published by the Newspaper Association of America, says that internship deadlines are creeping ever earlier. This is happening despite rising enrollments in schools of journalism and mass communications and a shrinking pool of opportunities.

So, resolve to get your applications for next summer out by the end of October -- unless your favorite papers have even earlier deadlines.

Be early, but don't panic. I have seen deadlines creep earlier ever since I started recruiting in 1990. At thetime, I moved the deadline at the Detroit Free Press from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1 and have no plans to make it earlier.

International internships?

Q: I've written to you a couple times, mostly because I have a lot of questions about the industry. It's also interesting to read real answers from a recruiter and not some career advisor who seems to be guessing. So, keep up the good work.

I've been doing a little research for internships next summer --  finding out what papers are the best -- and I've come across a couple international programs through my university. It sounds like they will set me up to work for a newspaper in either Sydney or England, pending acceptance. Do you think international is better, or more attractive, than national? I'm kind of stuck on this one.

Thanks again for the advice,

Keegan

A: Good question.

International internships can certainly help you learn and grow and that is a primary goal of an internship. Familiarity with how things are done in other parts of the world is become more important with globalization, but I don't  know that most editors are seeing how it can be applied by our staffers. That is a shortcoming on our part.

U.S. editors seem to look more favorably on internships at newspapers that are most similar to their own. As a prime reason for getting an internship is to get a job, this then gives you a dilemma.

If you go for an international internship for the experience, U.S. editors will be more interested in your work if it is in English and if the style and standards are more similar to those in the States.

Best, of course, if you have time, is to do both kinds of internships, or to work in the U.S. but spend a semester or two overseas.

 

Quit my internship?

Q: I just graduated with a degree in journalism and I'm taking an internship at a relatively prominent newspaper. It's a great opportunity, it pays well and it will look really nice on my résumé, but I hate the place.

I feel like I should have just gotten a job because I would be writing a lot more and I would be treated with a little more respect. So far I've been yelled at in the middle of the newsroom and my story ideas have been rejected. I've had better internship experiences than this and I don't want to be "paying my dues" by acting more as a personal assistant than a journalist.

Should I ditch the internship and look for a job or should I just wait it out for two more months?

Desperately Seeking Emancipation

A: Sorry, I think you should stick it out.

It is unprofessional to yell at someone in the middle of the newsroom, but it is also unprofessional to pull out of an internship a third of the way into it. As for having your ideas rejected, well, that happens to me, too, and I have to rework them and pitch them again.

Lots of other people likely applied for the opportunity that is now driving you crazy, and skipping out two months early could follow you. If they have to take sides in determining what went wrong, most editors will listen to other editors rather than interns who leave prestigious internships early.

Take these next two months and see what you can do to improve your experience. You will not be able to easily walk away from a real job and, if there is anything to learn now about turning a situation around, you will use it later.

Hold your head up high, try to work your part of the situation as well as you can. Enlist the intern recruiter, another editor or a mentor for some constructive and confidential help. While it sounds as though an editor has acted unprofessionally, I wouldn't want you to be unprofessional, too.

Let me know how things go.

Best newspaper internships?

Q: I know you're a busy guy, so I'll try to keep this brief. I have two questions:

1. In your opinion, what are some of the nation's best summer internships? I'm trying to plan ahead for next summer and I want to aim for the top. I'm interested in newspaper/magazine news reporting/copy-editing.

2. Do you know any professionals who would be willing to look at some of my articles and offer suggestions for improvement? I'm trying to improve my writing and build relationships in the process.

Thank you for the advice. Keep up the good work on your web site. It's helped a lot.

Keegan

A: The best internships tend to be at the best papers, with one caveat. Avoid situations in which interns do not get to do real work. While a lot of those do-nothing internships have been stopped, largely because of pressure from young journalists, some still exist at magazines.

So, choose good papers, check their Websites to see if they list former interns and then look up work on-line by those interns or find them and ask them.

A list of the best internships would be long, as each person has different requirements and qualifications. I do not have simple answer of 30 names.

I know of no professionals who can easily take on the task of writing free clip critiques. A good one takes a couple of hours and, of course, professionals are busy doing their jobs. I would suggest you cultivate some of your college professors, who are already on your payroll, or perhaps an editor at a newspaper that you see as a legitimate destination. An editor may take the time to critique work by someone who, with direction, could wind up at that paper.

If your college puts on a job fair, that may be an occasion to ask for help, too.

Extended internships?

Q: I was wondering how recruiters view long-term internship programs at larger papers vs. starting jobs at smaller newspapers. I have just graduated from college and am starting the job search. Some newspapers, such as the Oregonian and the St. Petersburg Times, offer one- to two-year internship programs that allow their interns to have reporting experience on a beat along with mentoring and training. At the same time, these programs are not actual jobs. How do recruiters view programs like this? Do they regard these programs as highly as a starting job?

Thank you for answering my questions!

Ready, set ...

A: The people admitted to these programs don't have the same experience as people coming into permanent jobs at the papers, but they get good editing and experience. Although other people at the newspaper might get more attention, you will be further ahead in one of these programs than if you spent the same amount of time at a much small paper that lacked resources or training opportunities.

Boring job?

Q: I'm working at my local newspaper this summer and it's going great so far. I've had four stories printed, but it's kind of boring. I know I have to start somewhere, but I just want to make sure this is going to be helpful in getting me where I want to be -- which is somewhere big. I love all the big national or big-city stuff. I'm covering small town events right now, of course. When I apply to bigger newspapers or wherever, are they going to look at what I covered? or are they going to look at my writing?

I told you before how much I loved going to the Free Press and seeing all the jobs there (photojournalism, photo editing, etc.) and you told me I just need to experience it in my internships to get hired for those types of jobs but a lot of those types of jobs aren't around this paper. They even just quit copying and pasting stories and photos a few months ago. So I guess I'm also wondering if, after this job, bigger places will be interested or what I need to do. Am I on the right path?

In Michigan

A: Sorry your work this summer is boring. It is something of a danger sign.

If, on your first real stories, you find you aren’t getting excited about interviewing people and writing, I wonder whether this will be right for you.

But, let’s keep trying. Try to get your passion lit and treat each story as an important one. They certainly are to the people you write about!

If you excel where you are – editors at larger papers will judge that on the basis of your writing and reporting – more jobs will follow. If you didn’t do a good job where you are, they won’t.

The big metros are exciting for a lot of reasons – the issues they cover, they way they cover them and the people they have are some – but you can’t get there if you don’t learn a lot and do well where you are.

Hang in there and, though it’s hard, push yourself to meet high standards.

Magazine or newspaper?

Q: First of all, thanks so much for your generosity in helping young journalists. I've been reading your site for the past few years.

Here's my question: I'm a college senior with past internships at a mid-size daily paper and a weekly news magazine. My long-term goal is to produce analytical journalism on politics and culture for either a top-tier newspaper or magazine.

Here's my dilemma: I've been offered a newspaper internship this summer at a large paper, but my assignments there would be covering suburban stories, which I already have experience doing from my past newspaper internship. I also have on the table the possibility of an internship at a well-regarded magazine covering politics and pop culture. I would get fewer clips there, but would possibly make more connections in the spheres I want to cover.

My question is this: Will the newspaper world be closed to me if I don't take the internship at the daily? Which of these opportunities bodes better for the full-time job search I will be launching in the fall?

Indecisive

A: The newspaper world will not be closed to you if you take this magazine internship.

In fact, I rather like that you will be diversifying your experience and getting a taste of what you are thinking you may one day want to do.

However, even though back-to-back newspaper internships would not be as diverse as a newspaper paired with a magazine, the double-paper gambit could be a stronger springboard.

On balance, though, if you are talking about a high-quality, news-oriented magazine, I think the chance to sample beats the strength of doubling up.

Before you accept, find out just how much writing you'll get to do -- by talking to people who have interned there before.

Either way, it sounds like you're on a good trajectory.

Edited or unedited work samples?

Q: I am looking to apply for internships for this upcoming summer. I am applying for a variety of internships through e-mail and was wondering if I should use pre-edited or edited versions of my work. The results I found were kind of mixed in this regard. Some said that I should send the edited version that appeared in the paper, and others said that I should send un-edited versions to show them my own journalism abilities. What do you think?

Adam

A: Most newspapers ask for clips.

A clip is a published sample of your work. Those would all have been through the editing process.

I would send only published samples unless an editor specifically asks for something different.

E-mail my internship resume?

Q: I am currently a sophomore in college and am looking to apply for internships for this upcoming summer. I have inquired about internship opportunities and received an e-mail saying that they were still looking at applications. I am applying for a variety of internships through e-mail and was wondering if I should either attach my résumé or send my résumé in the actual text of the e-mail. The results I found were kind of mixed in this regard. Thanks for your help.

Adam

A: I would give serious thought to applying on paper, and here's why. Although we are heading toward less paperwork, we're not there yet. An editor who receives a variety of applications -- some digital, some on paper -- needs to get them into one system. It is easier to convert digital applications to paper than to scan paper applications, so most editors are still working with paper. There is also the issue of storage capacity. My computer simply does not have space for hundreds of applications letters, résumés, essays and the thousands of work samples that would come along with them. Add in the fact that some people send their work samples as image files, such as PDF's, I would be looking at a major blockage.

That said, if you still decide to apply by e-mail, or id editors ask you too, I would put my résumé within the body of the e-mail, or attach it as a plain-vanilla word document.

Not all editors have all the programs that people might use to create their résumés, and some newspaper systems network administrators discourage the opening of attachments from strangers, for obvious reasons.

When I get an attachment that does not open, I get miffed. (At my computer, of course!) And I might ask the sender to convert the resume into some other program. If I get a dozen of those in a day, I am more likely to go with the applications I can read.

What if I'm not getting an internship?

Q: I am the sports editor of a student newspaper and recently applied to your newspaper's summer internship program on the recommendation of a former Free Press intern.

Though I wasn't accepted into the Free Press' summer internship program, I wanted to thank you for your letter. Around this time of year, good news in a letter addressed from a newspaper has been hard to come by. By next year's internship season, I hope to give you a good reason to reconsider that decision.

We recently discussed the Jan. 17 post, regarding the apparent decline in internship offerings this year. I have not yet received an offer, and I am wondering: What is a reporter's Plan B for summer internship options?

I've applied to a slew of newspapers, but it won't make a difference if none of them accepts me into its summer internship program. What would you recommend I do? Are there any options still available at this late in the year? I should mention that I have experience with copyediting, layout and design.

Chris

A: The key thing is to get some kind of experience. If the internships don’t pan out, despite a good effort, I would try to get a substantial number of freelance opportunities lined up. That is hard in the summer than it is in other seasons, when more sports are played.

You’re reminding me a of a graduating sports journalist I spoke to at last week’s job fair sponsored by Newsday in New York. He actually delayed a summer internship into the fall so that he would have a busier internship. It makes me wonder whether, if the fall internships can be found, sports journalists might do well to adjunct their college scheduled to take the fall off rather than the summer.

Your skills in editing and design can also be a play that can get you some attention, as they are in much shorter supply than sports writers. But you'll need to get applications for those positions out quickly.

Should I call anyway?

Q: I applied one week ago for a summer newspaper internship at an 80,000 circulation daily. In the form letter they send to inquiring journalists, it says not to contact the newspaper to see if you've been selected. However, at an information interview with the internship director last month, he said it was OK to call him once or twice during the process to see where things were at. (I didn't ask; he volunteered the information.) They make their decisions by mid-March.

This is the newspaper where I would most like to work and I strongly believe I have the experience, skills, maturity, etc. to do the job. When, if ever, should I follow up? Will a phone call make someone more or less likely to hire me? And what can I say in a follow up call that doesn't seem quite as pushy as "So, are you going to invite me for an interview?"

Rachel

A: I generally advise journalists to go ahead and contact places if they need information, but this paper seems to have been pretty specific, sending you a letter asking you not to call and telling you that you'll have an answer in mid-March.

I wouldn't call to ask whether they've decided anything, but I might continue to send some stellar clips and, if I could get there, I think I'd ask for a chance to come in and see the place.

Fewer internship opportunities?

Q: I know it's a little late, but I finally started to apply at for my second summer internship. I've tried calling a couple papers to find out when the deadlines are and two Knight Ridder papers said they were not sure if they were hiring interns because of the sale of Knight Ridder newspapers.

    Is summer 2006 going to be extra hard to break into internships, especially Knight Ridder ones? If so, any recommendations for others?

Ryan

A: This may be one of the unreported stories of the current malaise in the newspaper industry.

We have read how more than 2,000 jobs were cut in 2005, but internship reductions are not tracked as keenly. That's because they are short-term propositions and can be reduced between seasons without hurting anyone in particular.

Still, a lack of internships makes it harder for people to start their careers. The class of 2006 is at a disadvantage.

The word back from recruiters shows this:

• Knight Ridder, now up for auction, has suspended scholarships (with accompanying internships), internships it paid for at some of its paper, an entry-level specialty journalism program and year-long "rotating internships: that sent participants through three newspapers in a year.
• Some Knight Riddder newspapers have reduced their internships or are delaying offers until they have more clarity about the company's ownership.
• The Knight Ridder-owned Duluth News Tribune has suspended its popular "Bernies" internship program, named after former publisher Bernie Ridder. There were 10 interns in the program last year and hundreds applied for 2006, but have been told that the internships are off.
• The Oregonian's web site says it has suspended 200 internships for financial reasons.
• Newsday, which used to have six to eight interns assigned to New York City, has reduced coverage there and may reduce internships for that reason.

Several recruiters I talked with said their papers will have as many interns as last year. None said their programs are growing.

So, it will be extra hard.

I would expand my geographic range, look in high-demand positions such as business reporting or copy editing and I would explore new media.

Too many internships?

Q: I am an internship junkie. I've done six reporting internships at mid-sized and large metropolitan dailies. I'll be receiving my master's degree this spring after which I hoped to do one final internship. I enjoy interning because I can explore new cities and improve my writing under a variety of editors.

I thought that applying to an internship this year would be easier than in past years because I have more experience. But I've found little luck. I was a finalist for a few papers but I didn't get any offers. Some recruiters have told me they have reduced their number of intern spots this year, while some newspapers have nixed their programs altogether.

But I've been wondering, is there such a thing as too many internships on a résumé?

Thanks

T

A: Yes, you can have too many internships.

I think you can do one more -- if you can get it.

You can work as many internships as you like while you are a student, but if you start stringing consecutive internships together after graduation or between degrees, it starts to look bad. Editors may wonder why other editors will give you internships but not jobs.

Your problems in landing an internship now may be a decline in the number of positions, or a feeling that the internships are better used on people who need them to break in. While newspaper editors are not running charities, they do give some thought to the effect an internship can have on someone's career.

I have, on occasion, given an internship to someone who really needed one rather than to a more qualified person whose future seemed assured. I am more likely to do that with someone I'd really like to see get a break. Often, that means a local person who came to journalism later or one who has the right tools but lacks the training. Given their nature, internships can be good for a gamble by both employer and employee.

Don't feel bad. If you don't land an internship, you sound well-prepared to dive into a job.

Romance and references?

Q: I wanted to know what you as a recruiter would say to this situation.

Student editors write recommendation letters for reporters applying for internships all the time. It turns out that at my student daily, a number of people have gotten recommendations from a superior they were romantically involved with. Aside from being even more glowing than usual, the letters are standard fare; they stick to journalism and don't mention the relationships.

Offhand, this seems to raise ethical questions, because such a letter could be seen to provide a less-than-honest assessment of the applicant. A case could be made that the person should find a different reference or disclose the relationship. But on the other hand, I can see two sides of the issue, since there are practical concerns: there may not be another equally suitable person on staff to write a reference letter, and I doubt recruiters want to know about what goes on in the bedroom.

What do you think? Is it OK for someone to write a recommendation for someone they're in a relationship with? If it is, should they disclose their romantic involvement in any way?

Wondering

A: I don't like students to use other students as references. This is one reason why.

To answer your questions:

1. Do not say in the reference letter that you and the candidate get along as well in the bedroom as you do in the newsroom. That would be Too Much Information.

2. Do not write reference letters for your lover in the first place. There is such an obvious conflict here that this raises questions about the person who writes the letter and the one who uses it to try to get a job. There are way too many complications -- for the job and for the relationship. Let's keep these things separate.

Even when love has nothing to do with it, a student is seldom the best person to recommend another student. Co-workers at the college newspaper are often too close. The letter-writers are often far less experienced than other employers. Each year, I see people who apply for internships showing up as other candidates' references. I do not call them. How would it feel to be called for an internship you want -- only to be asked how well someone who is presumably less experienced would do it? What would you say?

I avoid references by students.

 

How long to wait for an answer?

Q: A few weeks ago, a newspaper called me for an interview and said they'd let me know in a week if they were giving me an internship. I never got a call back, and I know one of my friends did, so I was assuming they didn't want me for the summer ... but I really want to go there, regardless, so I called them twice this past week to see if they'd made their final decisions. The first time, the lady said she would check for me and call me "right back." I left her another message two days later and she still hasn't gotten back to me.

Would it be obnoxious of me to call again next week? I don't want to be a pain, but at the same time they're pretty much my top choice, and I haven't heard back favorably from anywhere else so I'm starting to get kind of ...

Nervous

A: In this case, I don't think you'd be the obnoxious one.

It sounds like they've made their choices and that their choices do not include you.

But hang in there. It could be that they have some offers out and are waiting to hear back. You still have a chance until they tell you that you don't.

I'd stay on them.

 

Big for a first internship?

Q: Is it unusual to get my first reporting internship at a 400,000 daily with only college newspaper experience? It looks like that is going to happen but I'm not sure if this is a big deal or not. Does everyone usually start small? Does this mean I have been marked to be a star or something or is it not that big a deal?

Chris

A: It's a bit unusual, but not unheard of.

Most people do start small, but not everyone does. Where you finish is more important than when you start.

Don't get sucked into believing this decision destines you for greatness. Enjoy your good fortune, stay humble and work your tail off so that everyone can see you deserve it.

What if I'm a finalist?

Q: After finishing my first wave of internship applications, I sent out my second wave of applications. In the process of sending out the second wave, one of my top choices from the first wave contacted me to tell me I'm a finalist for one of their choices. Should I keep sending out applications, even though I would accept the offer from the first choice? If so, how far do I go with the interview process, assuming I become a finalist for some other newspapers?

Andy in Colorado

A: Run until you win. Don't stop until you have a solid offer. Some papers will tell a lot of people they're finalists and then just choose a few. It keeps a wide pool of candidates available for them.

Too old for an internship?

Q: I saw the notice for the Detroit Free Press internship on the Berkeley School of Journalism page, and I'm wondering if it's open to non-students.

I have been writing for the internal publications at the University of Illinois at Chicago for six years now and am eager to make the leap to daily journalism. Though I have more than 200 clips and a weekly profile beat, I'm aware that crossing over might be difficult, since I'm probably too old for most internships and too green for seasoned reporting positions. A training position at the Detroit Free Press, though, sounds perfect.

Do I stand a chance? Any advice or help would be appreciated. Thanks,

Lisa

A: Almost all newspaper reserve internships for students or new graduates, seeing these 10- or 12-week jobs as steppingstones from college to the working world.

We have, on rare occasions, used internships as transitional steps for career changers. Once, for example, a person came to a Free Press internship as a photographer looking to move into copy editing. It worked for her.

But that is a rare exception.

We hope to get a look at what interns can do so that we know about them for future openings, but most internships do not lead directly into jobs. If we were to take someone who was several years out of school, require them to move, finance double housing and quit a permanent job, that would make it even more important for the intern to turn the internship into a job. Few newspapers want to put themselves or the interns under that kind of all-or-nothing pressure. A newspaper who takes an experienced person as an intern might even be seen as taking advantage of that person at the expense of a student candidate.

There might also be a mismatch of sorts when a person who has been out working for half a dozen years, paying bills, maintaining an independent household, is put into a program designed for people in college. When we have done that in the past, we sometimes find that the non-traditional interns have such different interests that activities planned for the interns -- or that they plan themselves -- are not of interest to the more experienced intern. That can happen with any intern, of course, but it is more likley to happen when people are in such a different place in their lives.

I would aim at a real, permanent job at a smaller newspaper. While you may be greener than the best competition at big newspapers, your life experience could be an advantage at some smaller ones.

Sports internship or job?

Q: When Bill Chronister from the Columbus Dispatch came to speak to our class, he said that those of us seeking jobs should get in touch with you because you keep a file of résumés and other editors come to you when they need a position filled.

Please find my résumé and some recent clips.

Presently I am writing freelance prep football recaps for an upstart weekly paper in Dayton and various other sports stories for our school paper, The Lantern.

When I graduate, I will only have six months of newspaper experience to show for it, in addition to a lone internship four years ago which, though a wonderful experience, was not one where I had a great deal of responsibility.

My question is what move should I make next. Should I try to find a post-graduation internship or do I have enough experience to be hired as a full-time sports reporter?

Thank you for making such a helpful website and looking into my situation.

Jon

A: I so much wish you had done some internships to build on the one you had four years ago.

Bulk up on as much sports writing as can for this upstart and plan on a post-grad internship. That will allow you to start better.

Quick decision on job offer?

Q: I just got an internship offer at a 200,000 circulation daily for the summer. Unfortunately, it's Nov. 16 and I haven't heard back from any of the 15 or so other papers I applied to. I have until  5 p.m. Nov. 17 to give the recruiter my decision. Meanwhile, I am contacting the other papers I applied to see "where I stand." There are several other places I would rather be than this paper (and several friends and professors said I might have a good shot at other papers), so I'm wondering if I should decline the offer and wait.

My question is: Since I just applied to many of these papers, should I even bother asking where they are in the process, should I take what I have (because it's a sure thing) or should I decline the offer and roll the dice.

Confused

A: Confused and LUCKY, I'd say.

A lot of people would love to have your problem!

The newspaper has given you a one-day window and then the offer goes away. I call that an exploding offer.

An early offer with a small window implies that the paper is anxious to get you and afraid it might not.

You can ask for a little more time -- like the weekend. If you've tried that or they say no, you have no alternative but to call your other choices -- starting with the most desirable ones first -- and try to get some indication of which way they're leaning.

It is unlikely you'll reach all of them, so you'll have to make the decision without having all the facts in front of you. That's what the newspaper is banking on. Those calls should give you the only clues you can get about your marketability. Perhaps that can give you some idea about how likely a better offer is.

Whichever way you decide -- stick to your decision.

Too young for a big internship?

Q: I am currently the editor-in-chief of a university newspaper. My experience and skills, I believe, can earn me any internship in the country. This is good. But, I am a sophomore. Most internships target juniors and seniors and I am usually blocked from some top publications. What should I do?

Keegan

P.S. I think your Web site is great. It's really helped my staff develop their journalism skills.

A: Apply anyway.

While you may be qualified to work any internship in the country, you need to land the one that will be offered by a newspaper that wisely realizes it should try to get you while it can, rather than a year or two in the future when you will have even more opportunities.

No clips, no respect from employers?

Q: I'm a current college junior doing applications for internships for this summer. For various reasons, I wasn't able to get a suitable print internship last summer and instead worked on the Web side of one of the top-10 papers. It seemed like the next best thing, and I thought it would give me a leg up the next time around.

But what I've been hearing from editors in casual conversations is that as far as they're concerned, the value of past internships is solely in having clips from them, which I don't have because the dot-com didn't do any of its own reporting. Needless to say, this is frustrating because it seems like I made a bad decision in taking the Web internship. I do have college clips, but how can I convince editors that they should value my online experience?

Your thoughtful answers to others' questions have been very useful to me, and thanks for keeping the site going.

David

A: It's short-sighted for editors to discount the experience you've had because it didn't generate clips. I'd use the best clips I had, from whatever source, and make sure that my cover letter and résumé pointed out plainly what relevant experiences I had from the web job.

Such experience could include representing the team at news meeting, exercising news judgment, editing, hitting deadlines and writing headlines.

You may find that the type of work you did last summer steers editors to think of you as a web guy. If that's not the direction you're looking for, resist and try to push the conversation over toward the areas you're more interested in.

Take some consolation in the fact that it sounds as though there is a much bigger name on your résumé than there otherwise might have been.

Did hurricane mess up job chances?

Q: I worked at The Times-Picayune this summer. I actually finished my last day this summer at The Times-Picayune just three days before Katrina hit. I can list several professional references from the Times-Picayune, but I can't get a hold of any of them, and I'm not sure you will be able to either with the conditions in New Orleans.

Also, a couple of the enterprise pieces I discussed with you at the career fair are finished and were scheduled to run in September, but I doubt they will run anymore. What do you recommend these circumstances? If you have any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Stephanie

A: List your references, trusting that by the time hiring editors get to to the point of wanting to call them, the e-mails and phones will work. If you find that some of your references move, keep them but update their contact info.

As for articles you wrote but that may never run ... this is good cover letter material. You can provide your raw, unedited copy upon request, but I would simply describe the circumstances under which your internship ended and use your best real clips.

I think that, as a reporting intern who weathered the storm, you will be noticed and remembered.

No one seeks benefit from a tragedy, but I think editors will be even-handed in evaluating you to make sure you don't suffer from it a second time.

When to apply?

Q: I plan to apply for a summer internship with an 80,000-circulation paper and am wondering when to do it. A form letter I got from the internship director said there is an open deadline, but summer internships are awarded in March. The letter also said there are about 50 applicants for each internship awarded. For background, I was also told by some staffers who started out as interns that many people get jobs there because their college has a relationship with the paper (several other people have interned there, etc.). Unfortunately, my college doesn't have that relationship, so I would probably be the first person from my school to intern there if I even get the job. Given all this, is there an ideal time to send out my resume and clips to this particular paper? Also, what are some ways to overcome the "it's who you know" syndrome?

There is one other issue too. About two years ago, I interviewed the top editor at this newspaper for a paper I was writing my freshman year in college. (He used to work for a U.S. president I was researching.) I have also written to this editor on a few occasions about various journalism issues, but we don't necessarily have an ongoing relationship and I am not sure he would remember who I am. Is it appropriate to mention any of this in my cover letter or would that seem like I'm trying to be a suck up? (By the way, this editor is not the same as the internship director.)

RB

A: This is a good illustration of the "it's who you know" factor. It is not so strong in every case, but it often helps.

Given that you have written about six months in advance of that March decision time, you should have ample time to create the kind of face-to-face relationship that can help.

I would look for opportunities over school breaks to visit the newspaper and meet with the internship coordinator and say hello to this editor you wrote about. I wouldn't call that sucking up. If you can land an informational interview there, I would look to also attend the news meeting, where you can observe the culture, and I would ask for a tour of the newsroom.

They may not have worked with your college before, but by visiting, you could put yourself -- and your own college -- on their radar.

Of course, knowing what you're working with, you should have several other target newspapers, as well, and I bet some of them will choose earlier than March.

When to apply?

Q: How early is to early for summer internship applications? I'm pretty much through with my résumé, cover letter and portfolio and part of me wants to get the first round of applications off ASAP. Still, I don't want the newspapers to toss my application in a pile and forget about it since the deadline is so far away and I don't want to annoy either. What should I do? Am I over thinking this?

L.K., Orlando

A: No, I don’t think you’re over thinking – I think.

Your application CAN get lost if it arrives too early. Just to give you some insight, I trashed this past year’s internship applications in late August. That gave me a place for the new ones. The safest time to apply is 1-4 weeks before the deadline. You’ll be on time, you won’t be in the huge pile of applications that arrives on deadline and you won’t be so early that the editors toss you aside.

Looking up each specific deadline so you can hit that 1-4-week window? That would be over thinking.

Most big-paper deadlines fall between Nov. 15 and Jan. 1, so I’d call the first two weeks of November a great time to send applications.

Internship for high school senior?

Q: I've worked as an intern for the past two summers at a100,000-circulation daily paper as a metro reporter and I have been published regularly.  The wrinkle in my case is that I'm a bit ahead of the game -- I'm only a rising senior ... in high school.  Writing has always been my strength and my work during my internship has almost always gone into the paper with little to no editing.

  However, I'm puzzled as to where to go from here.  My editors are always very complimentary of my work and I feel at this point that I've gotten all that I will be able to get out of this internship.  However, I don't know if I have any realistic chance at being able to find an internship at another, larger paper next summer.  While I love working for my current paper, my internship is very unstructured -- I don't have a beat or anything like that -- and as a result, I only write when assignments haven't been covered by one of the local news bureaus.  There's no structured mentoring program or anything like that.  I like the independence, but I think the best way for me to grow as a reporter would be to have a mentor for guidance and everyday assignments -- instead of sporadic ones -- to work on.

One day, I would love to write for a paper like the New York Times or Washington Post, but I know I'm years and years away from being ready to do that.  What I'm trying to figure out is what my next step is, as I'm unsure of whether any larger papers -- probably in the 200,000+ circulation range, I guess -- would be interested in me because of my age.  I think my work is proof enough that I'm very qualified, but I anticipate any internship hunt will be an uphill battle.  Of course, I still have the option of working again for my current paper next year -- there's no hurry to move up the ladder, as I'm still way ahead of the game, but I would really love the challenge of a more structured, higher-pressure internship at a larger paper next summer.  It certainly would beat working a  typical minimum-wage summer job.

What do you think?

Unsure

A: You’re reaching for two goals and don’t need to be. You’re longing for more editing and feedback and you’re feeling you should double the size of the paper you’ll work for next summer, but wonder of one will hire you.

I would worry less about circulation size at this point and more about coaching, mentoring and feedback. That is your largest need right now. Unfortunately, it is more difficult to find the papers that mentor than it is to look them up by circulation size.

I absolutely agree that a larger paper outside your region will not be eager to take you on just out of high school. It is not because you’re unqualified. It’s because 200,000+ papers will have more-qualified candidates, that they will be reluctant to about take someone who has not yet started college and because they will all feel that they have about four years in which to make an offer.

I’d look closer to home for your final pre-college internship, and I would focus on the coaching you crave, rather than the circulation numbers rolling through your head. Another option would be to look for an internship that takes you out of your comfort zone of metro reporting and shows you something about features or business reporting or copy editing.

Incidentally, you are wise to know that you are already ahead of the game. We want you to stay there, and we don’t want you to get tied up in knots of anxiety about how you’re doing.

Internships with no internship?

Q: Is it impossible to get a newspaper internship without having a prior internship? I have just begun the search for an internship for summer 2006 (late in the game) and the impression is that a lot of internships require this. This is my last summer to get an internship before I graduate; I'm determined to find one no matter what. Any advice for a reporter/editor from a small private college, with just two years experience on her college bimonthly?

Park University, Mo.

A: If no newspaper would accept interns who did not already have internships, then no newspaper would have interns.

Somebody has to go first.

It sounds like you're approaching newspapers that are too large for your experience. Aim at smaller newspapers and look for the few newspapers that will take a chance on you because of your good collegiate clips or who believe they should help you get in because you're good and really need a break.

Editor bullying interns?

Q: I need your help!

I'm midway through my summer internship as a metro reporter at a top-40 circulation newspaper and my fellow interns and I are disillusioned with the industry! Last night after work most of us sat around and came to the conclusion that if most newspapers are like this, we want nothing to do with them!

The most troubling event of the summer so far occurred when we had an "intern meeting" with our paper's metro editor. None of us had ever met him before (this was about 3-4 weeks into the internship). He sat us down in a conference room and gave us a lecture that made us all very upset. Repeatedly the editor told our group he explicitly didn't care, nor did he want to hear/know about, if we had any problems during our internships. I was utterly shocked.

I wasn't expecting to be babied this summer; I understand the pressures and responsibilities of a big newsroom. Still, I was appalled that an editor would ever say explicitly to a person working under them that he or she did not care or want to know about their work situation. It wasn't as if he was directing us to talk to a different person, or say, an intern coordinator. (Too bad no such position exists here, but nonetheless); he flatly said, "I don't care if your summer is terrible and I especially don't want to hear about it."

Please tell me not all "big" papers are like this!

Also, do you think I should say something to the nice recruiter (at the paper) who hired me for the summer but who was not at the meeting with the metro editor? This paper is part of a large newspaper chain, but as a fellow intern agreed with me, we will urge everyone we know to avoid applying here either for an internship or permanently. In 30 minutes this paper managed to earn a bad reputation that every college-age journalist I know (and considering I'm editor of a campus publication, that's over 100), and every other intern knows, will hear. So at the end of the summer should we say something to the recruiter, in a "just so you should know.... maybe meeting with the metro editor wasn't such a great thing..." kind of way?

Disillusioned

A: It sounds like this metro editor is planning to leave the business soon -- or should be. This will likely be the best thing he has done for the newspaper in a long time. Do you want to leave with him, or stick with the rest of us to make things better?

Any editor who truly doesn't care when his or her staff members run into difficulty is miscast. The whole point of being an editor is to work with people through thick and thin. The message you left that meeting with is wrong, wrong, wrong. It is not the norm at large newspapers, small papers or any in between.

Have you and your colleague interns worked at other newspapers? And have you run into this issue at them? I would bet not. Stick to your plans and passion. If you're meant to do this work, one loser or one bad experience will not dissuade you.

I would talk to the recruiter late in the internship, and I would do it as a group. Use timing and numbers to limit your exposure. Ask the recruiter's advice on whether you should also meet with and with an editor who supervises the metro editor. Make it plain that you are not trying to pull an intern power play, but that you share some genuine concerns that should be addressed if you are to give good references about your experience.

But let's not let one sour person drive out a dozen good ones. Show your steel, seek help from someone who cares and work for a change.

What do others think? Please comment.

Full-time or part-time internship?

Q: Are longer, but part-time internships preferred to shorter, full-time ones? What brings about this issue is that a large metro daily has offered me an unpaid internship that is not in my area. I would have to use my financial aid money to get housing and credit for that semester.

As a recruiter, do you consider the length as well as amount of shifts worked each week more so than the name of the paper and kind of experience gained? Does it look suspicious if there's a one to two month time frame on a résumé for an internship?

I want to make myself more competitive for paying internships next summer, but don't want to make a financial or career mistake.

Journalism student

A: This is different. We generally don't get such a choice.

Full-time temporary internships are the norm, but I see you must be creative to make this work. Good for you just for doing what you must to get the experience.

In your case, it sounds like the alternative may be nothing.

If a part-time internship is spread over a period of time, I'd tell editors what the total number of hours is equivalent to in full-time work. That will help them translate it.

However, the longer period of time would sound better on a résumé, though you must be honest and report that is was part-time.

An advantage for stretching things out is that it gives you more time to grow and change. A one-monther will be over before you know it. The disadvantage of part-time work is that you're there so seldom people might not get to know you well, and vice-versa.

Generally, we'd rather see more experience, even though it comes from a less prestigious newspaper.

Make sure your paying job does not distract or detract from the part-time journalism job, or you will have defeated yourself. Here's hoping you soon will be working full-time in journalism for a paycheck.

Get real work on internship?

Q: I've only been here for three weeks and I'm already very disappointed with this experience. Since the show I am assigned to is live on the weekends, there is virtually nothing for an intern to do. I'm constantly asking the producers if they need any help (to no avail).

This experience will definitely look good on my résumé but I was hoping to gain some "real" news experience. I'm a single mother and I have really sacrificed a lot to come all the way to New York to further my chances of getting a job in broadcast journalism.

Can I handle this situation in a diplomatic way? Is there a way to salvage this wonderful opportunity and turn it into what I think it should be?

Stuck

A: You have taken the first step by speaking with the producers. That does not seem to be working.

What were your expectations going in? Did someone lead you to believe you were doing something more meaningful than what you're doing? I'd approach that person and see what can be done.

Another tactic is to use a lot of hustle and initiative to try to get the attention of someone who will give you more responsibility. If you can't get more to do, treat this as the observational experience it is turning out to be and watch and learn as much as you can.

Although this will be a big name on your résumé, you'll want to have a good answer to the question, "What did you do or learn on your internship?"

This is a lesson to others to ask the hiring person and previous interns about the exact nature of the work.

Metro newspaper internships?

Q: I'm interning this summer at a mid- to large-sized 100,000+ daily and producing decent copy once a day (all of which so far have hit the paper the following day). I'm wondering what's the difference between working at the lower end of the top 100 largest newspapers and the top 15?

I find one article a day the best fit for my speed of work. Would I be expected to produce more or less copy at a top 15 paper? I assume these upper-echelon papers wouldn't give an intern an article in the paper every day.

Another question I have: Is it true that many of these top 15 papers still ask interns to write a lot of articles, but then the evaluates the articles on a daily basis to decide if any deserve to be in the paper (in other words, a lot of articles interns write never get press at the big papers?).

So, about how many articles would I actually be expected to write in a normal day at a large paper?

And also, when I get into the work world, can I handle being in the newspaper business if my production speed is just an article a day?

And beyond speed, what other differences are there between interning or working for life at the lower end of the top 100 biggest papers vs the top 15? Please correct any of my following assumptions: Top 15 papers pay better both for their interns and full-time staff of reporters, top 15 papers deal with a lot more pressure and stress due to larger readership and higher standards expected of them. Any other differences I'm missing?

Curious Intern

A: That’s a boatload of questions. And they’re timely. We’ll see what we can do.

First of all, it sounds like you have a sweet internship. Big paper, with all the advantages that implies, and lots to do.

Generally, the larger the paper, the fewer inches you are expected to write, but the more you have to do in terms of reporting, plotting, pitching, etc. It’s not less to do, but less to produce. The reason is that, as circulation size climbs, staff size in proportion to local newshole also climbs.

I do not think that very many papers of nay size have people running around writing articles that they don’t plan to publish. Some papers – and the Wall Street Journal is famous for this – have people spend more time, perhaps a LOT more time – preparing story pitches and drafts. They intend to run what their people are working on, but it might take longer to get it ready for publication.

At a really large paper, you should always have a few things going. One or two for down the road and the ability to jump on a daily breaking story. Longs as well as shorts.

There are lots of newspaper journalists whose production is less than an article a day. However, the output is higher at smaller newspapers and no big-paper journalist will be well regarded if he or she freaks at the prospect of handling three things in a day. Although you may not often be asked to do it, you have to be ready. Sometimes, smaller papers are a good place to learn that kind of skill and stretch.

You’re generally on the money about pay, stress, output, standards. But you’re just generally right. The reality is there is overlap. Eighty percent of the people at a 200,000-ciruclation may make more than the people at a 100,000-circ. Paper, but there are the 20 percent who don’t. We would hope that quality and standards rise with circulation size, but some of the worst ethical breaches we have seen have happened at the big papers, and some small – even real small – papers have sterling reputations. So you’re generally right, but will have t