The Value of Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Internships
A few weeks ago, the Hawaii chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists announced the selections for its 2010 internships. University students and post-grad individuals will get to spend several intense months working as paid staff at some of the state's most respected institutions, including Hawaii Business Magazine and Alexander & Baldwin. Congratulations to this year's selections!
It reminds me of my hectic, stressful but immensely rewarding times as a 2007 SPJ intern and 2008 SPJ intern at Island Scene magazine and Honolulu magazine. The internships gave me opportunities to hone valuable skills like interviewing--it's one thing interviewing someone for a school paper, and quite another thing to do the same for an award-winning glossy magazine--and learn dozens of highly cryptic editing symbols. The immense portfolio I built during these internships were (and are) priceless. All the receptions and exclusive events I visited were just icing on the cake! If you've considered working with the SPJ, I strongly encourage you to do so. You won't regret it.
