No clips. No byline. Nothing to do. No respect. No hope?At a certain unnamed, highest-rated young women's magazine, I spent hours upon hours sending size 2 dresses to thankless little girls who sent in their names in order to win a prize.
“I wntd my dress in size2 not 4 and u said it would come but it didnt and now i dont think i will ever read your magazin again why would u say u were givin prizes away but then send my dress in the wrong size. i want my corect prize."
This is what the typical intern might deal with: perusing reader mail that resembles the text jargon or that of a drunken, illiterate caveman, Fed-EXng excessive amounts of eyeliner and clothing, and editing reader stories to have that sparkling, hyperbolic girly-mag tone.
In retrospect, it was something to do, and it involved words at least 25 percent of the time. At what was my new internship for the most widely read mens-interest magazine, I thought coming to this unnamed magazine would allow me to research, write and edit material with a bit more substance. Emphasis on a bit.
But what should I have expected from a magazine whose pull quotes emphasizes one of three things: a women’s love for doing housechores in the nude, being a big fan of sex (uh, who isn’t?) or doing an activity a man would normally be seen as doing (i.e. marijuana, video games or some trivial activity whose chillness factor wouldn’t ordinarily be attributed to women because of society’s tendency to view women as perpetually high-strung)?
At this new magazine, I spent more time making copies and wondering why I couldn't sit in on production meetings than ever really researching or writing anything.
At that certain mens-interest magazine, I compiled football player stats and facts on celebrities a handful of times. I worked there for 5-6 monthes. Do the math.
I understand the concept of carving a niche at the places you work. I understand sometimes you've gotta be pro-active. But when editors respond condescendingly or when they look up at you like you've got three eyes when you ask if they need help, taking initiative isn't always the answer. You have to know your boundaries.
I’m starting to think that brand name magazines (the big guys that you can buy everywhere - from gas stations to drugstores to your local bodega) aren’t great for the truly hands-on intern.
Most of these magazines (NOT ALL) make lots of money because lots of people buy them. And guess what? The masses are dumb. It’s a self-perpetuating cycle. People want simple. They want easy. They want escapism. This sometimes requires dumb content, which in turn requires brainless intern projects - whether it’s researching lip gloss or sex positions or how to make some weird spy gadget out of a cell phone.
Maybe when magazines seek interns, they should just write: Seeking Editorial Intern: must be proficient in breathing and possibly thinking.
It's easy to become disillusioned, but I guess that's when you take your career into your own hands. If they wont let you write, write for yourself. Remember: most internships look good on paper, but if that means you need to pick up Copy-Editing for Dummies, than do it.
Got an outrageous intern story? You can remain anonymous. Email: Fivewireblog@gmail.com
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