LINK Internships have been an integral part of Animas High School for many years. Through three-week long internships at businesses both local and distant, junior Ospreys are introduced to the world of work and business. With no classes for those three weeks, interns are required to work 90-120 hours, learning new skills and helping out around the site. With the help of their mentor, all interns complete a project related to their internship. The chance to explore their passions in a real world-setting has proven to be worthwhile for many and life-changing for some. More information about the LINK program can be found at ahsinternships.weebly.com!
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The Telegraph is "The Independent Weekly Line on Durango and Beyond", founded by Missy Votel in 2002 after she saw a need for a more community-oriented, free (but not easy) newspaper in our town. More information, and recent news articles, can be found at www.durangotelegraph.com. During my time there, I wrote and published four pieces, also helping out with editorial content, daily tasks, and weekly delivery. |
LINK Project: Starry Night Article
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For my LINK project, which I worked on throughout my time at the Telegraph, I wrote an extensive feature article about dark-sky ordinances in our region and the effects of light pollution. I have always been interested in astronomy and stargazing, and I was thrilled to be able to see the Milky Way when I first came to Durango. When this story came up, I was glad to take it on!
I interviewed four different experts and did some backup research for as much clarity and accuracy as possible. The result is linked below. Durango Telegraph- The fight for a starry night |
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LINK Reflection
When I walked into the office of the Durango Telegraph on my first day there, I quickly realized that it was going to be a little different than I'd expected. Instead of being immediately assigned some menial, boring intern tasks, I was asked what I'd like to write. I was startled. From the very beginning, I was invited to take an active and important role- writing things to be read by the public, doing things that mattered. I was nervous at first, but it turned out to be an amazing opportunity.
I was definitely glad to have had some previous experience with newswriting (for the Quill) when I began working there. I already knew how to structure and put together a story, so I was able to immediately get to work when I took on my first article. One thing I had to learn, however, was how to adapt to the new environment and act accordingly. The daily life and schedule of a journalist is always changing, and I had to be prepared to go with the flow: scheduling things quickly, and writing fast. I found myself everywhere from a fake mining cave in a downtown toy store to a hot Pilates class out by Escalante. Though my perfectionist self protested, I sometimes had to rush things along just to get them done in time- and, believe it or not, they still turned out well. Deadlines didn't actually end up being too troublesome for me this time around.
It wasn't all a rush, though; there was also plenty of time in the office. At first, I often found myself distracted and unsure of what to do there, but as time went on, I found more and more ways to make myself useful- filling in some editorial content, transcribing interview recordings, brainstorming and planning if needed. By the last week of my internship, I had found my flow- I knew what we needed and felt able to contribute.
I certainly would recommend this internship to other curious, eloquent, independently driven students. It's a great way to get to know your community and pursue what piques your curiosity, while also learning more about writing and the workings of a small newspaper. Ultimately, additional hands (and perspectives!) can add a lot to the paper as well.
In general, this internship was a worthwhile exercise in patience and time management, and I left feeling more confident and more independent. I expected it to be a little stressful, but it turned out to be so much fun! I loved speaking to different people and reporting on my experiences. I certainly hope to write for the Telegraph again in the future if the opportunity arises.
Even after doing my internship here, I don't know whether I will specifically pursue journalism as an occupation. I do know that I want a job that offers plenty of opportunities for exploration, writing, and interaction with people, and I found all those things and more at this internship.
I was definitely glad to have had some previous experience with newswriting (for the Quill) when I began working there. I already knew how to structure and put together a story, so I was able to immediately get to work when I took on my first article. One thing I had to learn, however, was how to adapt to the new environment and act accordingly. The daily life and schedule of a journalist is always changing, and I had to be prepared to go with the flow: scheduling things quickly, and writing fast. I found myself everywhere from a fake mining cave in a downtown toy store to a hot Pilates class out by Escalante. Though my perfectionist self protested, I sometimes had to rush things along just to get them done in time- and, believe it or not, they still turned out well. Deadlines didn't actually end up being too troublesome for me this time around.
It wasn't all a rush, though; there was also plenty of time in the office. At first, I often found myself distracted and unsure of what to do there, but as time went on, I found more and more ways to make myself useful- filling in some editorial content, transcribing interview recordings, brainstorming and planning if needed. By the last week of my internship, I had found my flow- I knew what we needed and felt able to contribute.
I certainly would recommend this internship to other curious, eloquent, independently driven students. It's a great way to get to know your community and pursue what piques your curiosity, while also learning more about writing and the workings of a small newspaper. Ultimately, additional hands (and perspectives!) can add a lot to the paper as well.
In general, this internship was a worthwhile exercise in patience and time management, and I left feeling more confident and more independent. I expected it to be a little stressful, but it turned out to be so much fun! I loved speaking to different people and reporting on my experiences. I certainly hope to write for the Telegraph again in the future if the opportunity arises.
Even after doing my internship here, I don't know whether I will specifically pursue journalism as an occupation. I do know that I want a job that offers plenty of opportunities for exploration, writing, and interaction with people, and I found all those things and more at this internship.
