In it, he describes me as the kind of girl who has probably never missed a deadline in her life, a stable, dependable reporter, and while all that could feasibly be applied to my description now, I don't want to be the Hermione Granger of the newspaper for my entire life.
Yes, I talk in class, yes I am obnoxiously over-prepared for every interview -- or more, every conversation -- that I have, yes, I wanted to be Hermione for a large portion of my life, but she knew what she wanted.
I had a conversation with the Features editor the other day, and he asked what specifically I like about features. (Which, to quote Jennifer in that account, "I don't even know what a feature is!") I replied with a purposely vague,
"Well, I like profiles. And I like the longer, follow-you-around-type stories. You know, more novelistic writing than anything."
And he said: "We don't really...do that. We do arts and entertainment, and as an intern it'd probably be more of covering events - quick briefs."
Okay, so I wasn't expecting to write the Pulitzer as an intern, I'm not crazy. But if features isn't where that kind of writing, where can I take my Hermione-style self to write the things I want? Or at least to travel in that direction?
Is there anywhere in this digital future of journalism where there's actual writing?
Yes. Work for the NY Times, New Yorker, or an online newsmachine like that. I mean, the NYT still has a huge amount of profiles and features for a newspaper in an immediate gratification society. Or, just start your own things and try and sell them freelancin' it.
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And don't worry, I don't think anybody really knows what they're supposed to do yet. College is still a comfort zone. <3
Gah, why doesn't this tell me when people comment? I'm sure I would do more post-type things if there were some sense of community about it. Blegh.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thank you! You are cute and nice.
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