APPLICATION TIPS

Pick the clips you are most proud of, and make sure they have no factual errors or typos. If you've written something you especially like that has never been published, then go ahead and send that as well. Don't send more or fewer than the organization asks for (usually between eight and 10 samples). Get as many people as possible to look over your résumé and cover letter and incorporate their feedback. Send in your stuff well before deadline.

The most important way you can prepare for a media internship is to spend some time reading the publication whose internship you're applying for. Over time you'll get a sense of its voice as well as what kinds of stories it covers. In some cases, a detailed critique of the publication is part of the application process, so look closely at the editorial content and the way it's put together. Think critically -- if you just wanted to do office work, you'd temp, right? Ask questions in your interview. The better your questions, the better impression you'll make.

ONCE YOU'RE IN

Being professional means treating the goals of the publication as common goals, and figuring out how you fit into achieving those goals is the learning process of the internship. An internship is a modern apprenticeship, a labor agreement that benefits both parties and gives an inexperienced person a glimpse into the professional world. Don't be arrogant; don't suck up. Ask questions, keep your eyes open and treat the internship as a kind of independent study.

Make sure your goals are clear to you before you accept an internship. Don't let the excitement of being chosen for a prestigious spot trick you into a situation where you're not doing what you want to do. Do your homework -- will this internship teach you what you want to learn? It's nice to be invited to join a club, but the real opportunity is in the experience itself.

[ BACK TO INTERNSHIPS ]