2013 WNA Foundation Internship Program

2013 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Courier Sentinel, Cadott Clintonville Chronicle Dodge County Pionier Door County Advocate

Appleton • UW-Oshkosh

ANDREW HANLON Personal growth

“

For a lifelong Packer fan, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as well as a huge opportunity to learn and grow as a journalism student.

”

• Exposure • Resume building • Confidence • Opportunity

My experience as a WNA intern was an incredibly positive one. I had the opportunity to perform in a real work environment, do the things I love to do, and experience things I never thought I could experience. This internship is definitely something I would recommend to any journalism student.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about my internship at the Clintonville Chronicle was the opportunity I had to attend the Green Bay Packers Family Night Scrimmage. I was able walk through the tunnels of Lambeau Field into the media room and talk with actual professional media members from TV, radio, and print.

From there I walked with them onto Lambeau Field where I was able to take up-close photos of Packer players throughout the scrimmage. When the scrimmage was over, I was able to sit in on Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s post-game press conference. For a lifelong Packer fan, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as well as a huge opportunity to learn and grow as a journalism student.

Apart from that incredible experience, I was able to discover the day-to-day life of a professional journalist, something that can’t be taught in a classroom. From doing interviews to writing articles and putting together pages, I was able to accomplish a lot during this internship. After putting so much hard work into the paper each week, seeing the final product on the newsstand was both a humbling and rewarding experience.

Again, this is not the kind of thing that you can learn in a classroom.

This internship through the WNA was not only a great learning experience, but a fun and rewarding one as well. My work as a summer intern was nothing but positive. I was granted the opportunity to be able to perform in a real work environment while doing things that I enjoy. I also had a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the Packers Family Night Scrimmage. I would highly recommend this internship to any student who is pursuing a career in journalism.

Clintonville Chronicle R e p o r t i n g • S o c i a l m e d i a • E d i t i n g • P h o t o g r a p h y • I n t e r v i e w i n g • Wr i t i n g

Sussex • UW-Oshkosh

HALEY WALTERS Personal growth

“

I didn’t do coffee runs, shred files or deliver lunch. My internship was very much a hands on and valuable experience filled with a lot of learning and hard work.

”

• Exposure • Resume building • Confidence • Opportunity

Through my internship with the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, I learned important journalism skills by being immersed in reporting everyday I went to work.

Over the ten-week program I wrote over 30 articles, took hundreds of pictures, designed pages and worked with other reporters in the field. I attended and reported on events throughout Dodge County like ribbon cutting ceremonies, music festivals and boat races. I was able to profile local business owners, teachers and activists who were all trying to make a difference in their communities.

My internship also taught me more about more hard-hitting topics and dealing with police reports and crime stories. During my internship, many Wisconsin police departments were beginning to redact information to protect individuals’ identities from police reports. It was interesting to see first-hand how that decision impacted local reporting and information available to the public.

I also received a lot of practice editing and shooting pictures using professional camera equip-

ment. I realized how valuable my internship truly was as I was sitting in my first college media photography class at UW Oshkosh and feeling confident I could meet my professor’s expectations for our assignments. The internship also helped me develop as a feature writer after I completed an ongoing five-part series profiling several Dodge County citizens who had old-fashioned hobbies.

My internship concluded with an investigative piece on the inconsistent residency restrictions for convicted sex offenders throughout the county’s different towns. I spent my spare time gathering maps, calling sheriff departments, town police chiefs and state officials to compile the piece and find out why residency restrictions weren’t consistent.

Throughout the ten weeks I was with The Dodge County Pionier my editor and coworkers treated me like any other employee. I didn’t do coffee runs, shred files or deliver lunch. My internship was very much a hands on and valuable experience filled with a lot of learning and hard work.

Dodge County Pionier

R e p o r t i n g • S o c i a l m e d i a • E d i t i n g • P h o t o g r a p h y • I n t e r v i e w i n g • Wr i t i n g

Madison • Northwestern University

KATHERINE STEIN Personal growth

“

... every day of my internship, I worked in an office full of people who welcomed, guided and supported me as I learned to report and write like a real journalist.

”

• Exposure • Resume building • Confidence • Opportunity

A few weeks ago, one of my hometown friends told me something to the effect of, “I can’t imagine doing what you’re doing this summer” (i.e., interning at the Door County Advocate) “and enjoying it.”

along to my favorite music as familiar-faced shipbuilders and runners waved to me. At noon, I ate lunch in the sun on a bench overlooking the Sturgeon Bay canal, watching as boats passed under the Michigan Street drawbridge.

His words surprised me, but perhaps they shouldn’t have.

Door County is known as a vacation destination, not as a site for internships.

They told me about their lives, gave me their opinions, and spoke honestly and openly. They patiently answered my many questions about minutiae and gently corrected my mistakes. And, they let me use their words and photos in my stories.

Most people come here to relax, not to work. And, because of the Peninsula’s relatively small population, there’s not a lot of serious crime, celebrity gossip or political turmoil — the stuff of today’s “hard news.”

So, perhaps my friend assumed that, since I was working on “soft” news stories in a place known for relaxing, I wouldn’t enjoy my internship. Maybe he thought I envied journalism students who break hard news stories in major cities, or that I envied the vacationers who come to Door County without having to work at all.

Well, if that was the case, my friend was wrong. I didn’t envy those people at all. In fact, if there must be envy, journalism students and vacationers should envy me.

Here’s why: Nearly every day of my internship, I woke up early and drove from Egg Harbor to Sturgeon Bay, singing

And every day of my internship, I worked in an office full of people who welcomed, guided and supported me as I learned to report and write like a real journalist.

They answered my ceaseless questions about, well, everything; they commiserated with me over Associated Press style in general and apostrophes in particular; they gave me opportunities for front-page articles (and a gift certificate for a goldfish, inspired by #KateTheIntern’s struggles at the Door County Fair). For all this and much more, I am very, very grateful to Warren Bluhm, Samantha Hernandez, Ramelle Bintz and the rest of the Advocate’s editorial, sales and managerial staff. So, thank you, Door County. As I told my disbelieving friend (and many other people, too), I can’t imagine a better place to have had a summer journalism internship.

Door County Advocate

R e p o r t i n g • S o c i a l m e d i a • E d i t i n g • P h o t o g r a p h y • I n t e r v i e w i n g • Wr i t i n g

Wausau • UW-Eau Claire

NATHAN BECK Personal growth

“

I learned how to find stories everywhere, hunt for the truth and connect with decision-makers. Last summer taught me to be hungry — and not just on Tuesday deadlines.

”

• Exposure • Resume building • Confidence • Opportunity

Last summer I worked at the Courier Sentinel and the Tribune Record Gleaner, two small town weeklies in the heart of Wisconsin, through a WNA Foundation scholarship.

I felt welcome from the get go. Every Tuesday on deadline someone would bring in lunch at the Courier Sentinel. Usually home-cooked stuff. Ovenroasted chicken, green beans and biscuits were staples. Brain food.

I remember my Courier Sentinel editor, John Marder, asked me to cover a Cornell High School pep rally and write a story about a girl who qualified for state track and field. So I grabbed the camera and a notepad and started walking to the high school three blocks from the office.

In Cornell, the elementary school and high school are a block away from each other. I had been working in Cornell for about three weeks and had only been to the school board meetings at the elementary school. So that’s where I went.

The superintendent/elementary principal, a sharp, boisterous man about 35, greeted me when I walked in the front door.

“I wasn’t expecting the Courier Sentinel,” he said.

“Follow me. Our school psychologist is dressed in a chicken suit and the fourth-graders are throwing raw eggs at him.”

He led me to a park between the elementary school and high school. Sure enough, a fully-grown man dressed to the nines in feathers and a beak was dodging airborne eggs aimed by a line of kids. Chicken man groaned as I took the lens cap off my camera.

Although last summer was filled with plenty small town shenanigans, I did cover a wide range of stories. Everything from police reports and city council meetings, to a hog showing contest at the Clark County Fair.

And throughout, Carol and Kris O’Leary, John Marder, Dean Lesar and the staff of both papers gave great advice and guidance.

Back at school everything was a snap. I learned how to find stories everywhere, hunt for the truth and connect with decision-makers. Last summer taught me to be hungry — and not just on Tuesday deadlines.

Courier Sentinel, Cadott

R e p o r t i n g • S o c i a l m e d i a • E d i t i n g • P h o t o g r a p h y • I n t e r v i e w i n g • Wr i t i n g