CityScene Media Group

Contributing Writer/Editorial Assistant

June - August 2020 • Columbus, OH

What I liked

- The staff immediately trusted me with assignments, so I didn't have to wait for work to come my way - I got to write short and mid-sized online articles, diversifying my writing portfolio - I conducted several interviews, honing my verbal communication and creativity skills - The office environment is very quiet and relaxed, which I enjoyed as an introvert - The staff is very accessible and always willing to answer questions - I got to work on different assignments, including proofreading work and coordinating community calendars

What I wish was different

I worked during the pandemic, which greatly impacted my experience at CityScene. Because a lot of community events were cancelled, there was just a lot less material to write about. This slowed down the workload, so I did get bored on some days. I also was interested in improving my social media skills, but the social media internship is separate from the editorial internship. I also didn't make my interest very clear. Again, my experience is very unique to the pandemic, and I encourage anyone looking for professional writing experience to consider this workplace.

Advice

Don't be afraid to exercise your voice and express your interests. The staff is fantastic and very open to feedback. The workplace is flexible, so you have the power to shape your internship experience. Be open to trying different assignments and taking on more tasks. And if you're interested in something that's part of another internship, don't be afraid to let staff know. If you're bored, just ask staff for more work, and they'll always find something for you to do. This is a great place to grow, but you have to initiate the conversations to get the experience you want.

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Editorial Assistant \ Intern

January - May 2020 • Columbus, OH

What I liked

- reasonable workload - fun and interesting assignments - great editorial experience - many growth opportunities - supportive staff and co-workers - flexible hours - smooth transition when COVID hit

What I wish was different

- more feedback on work - wish I had access to a virtual folder of resources instead of paper copies but c'est la vie!

Advice

Your time is what you make of it. Get to know the editors and staff and your experience will be improved tenfold. Don't be afraid to ask for help, and on the flip-side, don't be afraid to ask what else you can do to help; you may find an opportunity to learn something new!

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Editorial Intern

May - August 2019 • Columbus, OH

What I liked

I really enjoyed the opportunities CityScene gave interns for gaining hands-on experience. From day one, I was fact-checking, reporting, and writing. The staff also always explained the process behind what I was doing in order to really give me insight into the publishing industry. I also liked how the staff was willing to accommodate my interests. The staff would always ask me what I wanted to write about and would make an effort to give me stories surrounding that topic.

What I wish was different

During my time at CityScene, there were some changes made in the staff that caused a lot of confusion and issues within the editorial department. However, these issues caused editors to rely more heavily on interns, which ended up being a very beneficial experience for interns because it allowed us to gain more real-world experience by having to problem-solve and work under pressure.

Advice

Do not be afraid to ask questions. The staff is very friendly and is always willing to share with you their personal experiences as well as some tips and tricks of the trade.

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Editorial Intern

June - August 2019 • Columbus, OH

What I liked

I enjoyed the hands-on experience I got and the work environment. From day one, they put me right to work with fact-checking articles and working on a calendar for one of the magazines. Shortly after, I got my first story assignments and from there I continued to work on articles and stories until the end of my internship. The editors were also very nice, always willing to offer feedback and assistance, very flexible and understanding of sudden schedule changes.

What I wish was different

I wish the organization and time management when it comes to story assignments had been better. At times it was confusing what was being asked of me for specific stories or stories/projects had been double assigned. Sometimes the deadlines were short with one of my stories having a one-two week turn around time. However, by the end of my internship, the editors had started to rectify some of the issues, so I don't expect this to be an issue anymore.

Advice

Go into this internship ready to work and to take on tasks and assignments. There's no real shadowing involved, you just jump right into magazine journalism and story writing.

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Editorial Intern

May - July 2018 • Columbus, OH

What I liked

I liked the small company environment of the office -- everyone knew one another and talked with one another in all different parts of the company. I liked the experiences of contacting and attending events as the official media sponsor.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had gotten paid more than 20 dollars per article. This made me feel as though I didn't get anything from my efforts. Also, the interns were mostly asked to write things for free, such as do small updates and articles. Also, I wish that the style of the magazine was different -- there were a lot of click-bait ads, fluffy articles and photos. It doesn't really talk about things that are groundbreaking -- just the "life" of living in Columbus with a deep pocket.

Advice

I would say that location wise, it is pretty nice -- you are right outside the city, so you might not get stuck in rush hour traffic. Also, I thought that although I enjoyed some aspects of being in a small business, I felt as though people didn't notice its presence, that it was cliche, and that if someone is looking to write about News, this isn't the place.

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