The Partial Observer by Peyton Carter

Internship Reflection: Experience at a Local Newspaper

My internship at “The Freeman’s Journal” in Cooperstown, New York, has been a great learning experience for me. This opportunity allowed me to witness first-hand how essential local newspapers are in keeping the community informed and up to date with regard to area happenings. As a journalism major, I have been studying reporting, media ethics, interviewing and news writing for the past few years. Yet, this internship at “The Freeman’s Journal” provided me with the occasion not only to put skills I have acquired through my classwork into practice, but also to discover the multifaceted features of what it means to be a journalist, especially at a smaller publication such as this. Throughout my experience of working with the newspaper staff, I acquired extensive knowledge in the areas of reporting, editing, advertising and social media. By being given exposure to such a wide range of attributes within the paper’s operation, I now have a better understanding of the various fields within journalism and in which I would most like to focus my efforts in the future.

Most significantly, I was able to learn interviewing and reporting skills during my internship. I realized that interviewing people is one of those skills that cannot be taught in a classroom, but rather learned from experience. I interviewed a wide variety of local business owners, event planners and attendees, and regular residents with interesting stories. Every person is different; I learned that I could not use the same interviewing tactics for everyone. Those interviews then became stories, which I transformed into articles for the paper. These articles were published and read by real people. As a result, I had to ensure that my stories were well-written, accurate and fair. Knowing that my stories could impact my community made me more conscientious of every word and quote I used.

I was also able to learn the significance and value of editing stories. I realized that the editing process is essential to making sure an article is correct and ready for publication. In addition, I learned how important it was to double check all statements and facts before publishing, since the paper could be held accountable for any inaccuracies. The real world consequences of publicly presenting my work added a dimension of accountability that I had previously not fully appreciated in a classroom environment.

I learned how collaborative a process it is to write stories for a newspaper. The senior (and sole) editor provided insight and suggestions regarding grammar, organization, or anything else that needed to be adjusted to provide the best story possible. Working with her helped me become a better writer myself. I would note her suggestions and corrections and would incorporate those styles and methods in my future stories.

Although not my primary responsibility, I also learned about advertising sales and came to understand how important newspapers are to local businesses. As part of the advertising process for such a small publication, I went door-to-door, soliciting local businesses with advertising space in the Business and Services Directory section of the paper. Additionally, I engaged in cold calling both new and past business clients also in an effort to advertise page space. At first, these conversations were difficult, because I had to learn persuasive sales skills. Working on advertising sales gave me a new perspective on journalism.

I came to realize that newspaper advertisements are an investment from both the company purchasing the page space and from the paper itself. While companies paid to place ads in the newspaper, it was the paper’s job to craft and design the message and graphic to the business’ specifications and acceptance. It took a lot of effort to get companies to invest in advertising in the paper, but, of course, advertising sales are what fund the paper’s operation and are an essential part of the business of running a newspaper, an aspect to which I had not been previously exposed.

The fact that “The Freeman’s Journal” is a smaller newspaper gave me a new perspective of what a media outlet can be. Most of my classroom assignments and projects have revolved around larger news networks and items of national interest. “The Freeman’s Journal,” however, gave me an entirely different perspective of what local newspapers are all about. First and foremost, when working at the paper, I realized that everyone wears many hats. While individuals at the paper are specialized in their particular area of expertise, it is a very collaborative environment in which everybody helps each other. My role was different in that I moved fluidly between all departments. Beginning with my first week, I had reported, edited, performed sales, and managed the paper’s social media accounts. By being part of such a small organization, I was required to know a little bit about everything.

Secondly, I learned what goes into every part of the publishing process, including how stories were assigned and published; more than a team effort, it is a process of collaboration from the entire staff. Further, I have learned the importance of building relationships within the community by meeting with many business owners, nonprofits and residents, who are not only our sponsors, but also our consumers as well. These relationships were essential in my role as a reporter for the paper, as they provided me with many leads for stories about events or happenings in Cooperstown and the surrounding area of Otsego County. In addition, I got to know the people and community I was reporting on and became more familiar with their interests, traditions, and ways of life. These relationships not only helped me secure stories, but also showed me the value of local journalism.

Another skill I learned during my internship was the vital value of social media. Publishing a story is only part of the job. In order to reach a larger audience, newspapers need to market their content. Early on in my internship, I was assigned to manage the paper’s social media accounts on various platforms, including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). I created posts for these accounts, engaged with followers and promoted the paper’s content. In addition, I also used these platforms to network with businesses, organizations and community members. These connections gave the paper more exposure, while also helping the local residents and consumers to become more involved with the paper. This taught me that social media is essential when it comes to publishing news. While it may not be as essential for national news outlets, local outlets must use these platforms as a means to promote their content. More and more people are finding news on social media, so having a presence there is fundamental.

Managing these social media accounts on behalf of the paper made me aware of the importance of not only having social media accounts but also knowing how to use them correctly, in a way to create more engaging content, so as to attract more attention to the paper itself.

In addition to having an opportunity to enhance my writing and reporting skills through regular practice, I also learned about writing press releases and stories suitable for publication. When writing stories for copy, it was essential to know what to, and what not to, include. I learned how to organize the information from my interviews concisely and ensure that it meets all the paper’s criteria. Moreover, writing multiple weekly stories has made me a better writer. Every time I submitted a story, the senior editor would give me feedback on what I could improve, and, as a result, I have become more conscious about what to write and how to write it.

The single best part about my internship at “The Freeman’s Journal” was that I had the opportunity to learn many valuable skills from experienced people in a real world, newsroom environment. I have come to realize the extensive effort that is required to report the news and the effort required to be an effective journalist. My prior preconceptions of the industry have most certainly been altered by this immersion in the process of production, marketing and deadlines. I was given an opportunity to practice and perfect some skills from the classroom experiences in my major, such as reporting and interviewing. I also learned many new skills that I understand to which I would only have been exposed outside of the classroom, such as advertising sales and managing social media accounts. Above all, this internship instilled in me an appreciation of not only the professional side of journalism, but also the adrenaline of the field, itself, reaffirming my decision to pursue a course of study and career in this arena. I have come to appreciate the vital role local newspapers play in keeping communities informed, while larger news networks provide broader perspectives on issues of national and global importance. My internship at “The Freeman’s Journal” has been a great learning experience for me, opening my eyes to a multifaceted profession that is so much more than a simple source of information.

Peyton Carter was an intern this summer with AllOtsego. Originally born in Boston, Carter grew up in New Jersey and now resides full-time in New York. He graduated from Bernardsville High School in New Jersey and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in criminal justice at The University of Mississippi.