So Sean Breslin has fled town for some plum job interviews in Philly, and the Mercury news team is looking for another intern. The internship lasts three months and will start in January. Send some clips, a short cover letter explaining why you’re perfect for the internship, three 80-word story pitches and a resume to: news@portlandmercury.com.
- NEWS! SUBSTANTIAL, ACCOUNTABLE, SERIOUS…
We’re looking for:
•obsession with the changing business of news
•flair and energy—do you love this industry to death?
•an itch to get out of the office and report on things
•an understanding of AP style, and how to break it
•resourcefulness—make those pitches zing, and try to avoid reflecting what we’ve already covered
•tattoos* (not really, but Breslin was covered in the things, and we miss him)
•knowledge/views on the media landscape here in town
We’re not looking for:
•someone who really wants to write arts coverage. You’re into news. You like NEWS. NEWS!
•confidence
•wait, we ARE looking for confidence
•accuracy and all that shit
•wait…
In return:
•we’ll pay you freelance rates for any clips you get into the paper
•we’ll introduce you to contacts who may be useful should you choose to pursue a news career here in town
•we’ll try to share the benefit of our experience—we know what not to do, better than anyone
•we’ll show appreciation and gratitude
•we won’t ask you to chop up our doughnuts
Good. Please file your application by December 11 at noon.
“•an understanding of AP style, and how to break it”
AHEM. As one who spends a fair amount of time each week copy-editing the news section, I’d like to note that:
A) Our house style guide borrows from both the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style, and
B) Please don’t break it.
@Alison. By AP style, I mean the news pyramid, 25 word introductions, chopping from the bottom, “objective voice,” etcetera. Sure, I want the semi-colons in the right place. But I don’t want copy that looks like an obituary. Or the Oregonian. Granted, sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference. Although I’ve noticed they’ve been writing more like us, too, these days.
This is more like it, when I say “break it,” as in, you’ve got to know the rules before you can break them:
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ss…
From someone who spends Tuesdays fact checking the news section, I’m personally hoping for a candidate who LOVES “facts” and “accuracy.” I feel kinda meh about flair and tribal tattoos.
Agreed. See #”accuracy and all that shit”
What about an intern who’ll take up two of your hours explaining why he hates the pyramid style?
Gone to pursue employment in Philadelphia after hanging here unpaid until his money ran out. That just about says it all for Portland. But hey… we’re green, we’re weird and we’re sustainable… if you have a trust fund.