My Parting Words

Hey Edsters! Today was a sad, sad day in the land of interns - aka my last day! It was really bittersweet. I had such an amazing experience and learned so much, and worked with an awesome team of people. But I definitely will appreciate sleeping past 6:30 a.m. (remember, commuting to NYC every day from NJ = early mornings), at least until I leave for my semester abroad in London at the end of August. Now I just have to worry about packing four months' worth of clothes and shoes into two 50-lb. bags!

If you haven't ended already (or if you just recently have), check out this site for great tips on finishing your internship on a positive note. Don't forget to write thank-you notes and keep in touch with the editors you worked closely with. When you follow up, nobody wants to read five paragraphs of how involved you are in school, or how much fun you're having, etc. Keep it brief and to the point - and make it relevant to the person you're writing to. For example, if you're writing to an associate editor who recently had an article posted on your mag's site, tell her that you read it and what your favorite part of it was. Then throw in a few sentences about your recent projects/involvements. Another great tip I got this summer for follow-ups was finding out when your editors' birthdays are, and sending them bday wishes!

Anyway, it has been my pleasure to be one of the bloggers for the Ed Intern Diaries this summer. I wish I could reveal my identity to you, but Ed himself says it's a no-no. I hope you all took something away from your internships - whether you discovered the type of place you want to work it, or perhaps that type of place you don't want to work at (equally important!). I'll leave you with a few interesting articles to keep your Blackberry active over this lovely sunny weekend!

Graduating from J-School: The Process: when you add new media to old media, the sum isn't always clear.

Securing an Internship - and a Seat: I don't know about you guys, but I'm obsessed with NYT Education Life.

Being a Leader in a World of Followers: you need to be able to see the bigger picture.


Well, interns, it's been real. Stay classy, NYC.

xoxo,
cyber intern

Thursday!!

Hey All,

So it's Thursday and we are at the end of yet another week. What are you all up to? Is next week your last week? It's mine and I'm getting a little sad to be leaving- I'm going to miss working in Manhattan, especially after a year of interning, but I think about all the amazing things I've accomplished and learned in the past year and realize that eventually my magazine dreams will come true (with a little help from an Uncle I happen to know...aka ED!)

Last night the weather was CRAZY!! I actually changed my route so that I could take the subway below my building (gotta love Manhattan :D) and avoid all the rain. I hope you had a safe and uneventful commute home!

Did you all get clips from your summer internship? I didn't get any from this internship, and had hoped that would be different. I have loads from previous ones, but mostly online stuff- I've really stayed away from Print because I believe it's going the way of AM Radio- it's going to become obsolete. If you were lucky enough to score a print version, grab a bunch of the mags and sock em away, it'll be fun to look back years from now and see how you used to write, etc.

Okay on my way to work...have a great thursday!!

I'm going to see The Ugly Truth tonight, so I'll let you know if it's worth the 12 bux tomorrow, that's right movies are 12 bux nowadays, at least in NYC...

xoxo money chic :)

I'm Back!

Hey Edsters,

So sorry for the hiatus, I (thankfully) was on vacation and then got sick and so I have just started my last two weeks here in money land.

I hope you enjoyed reading my ideas/complaints/quirks and qualms throughout this Internship. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my favorite parts of NYC life and the trials of being an Intern in the summer with you! I hope you all enjoyed your own experiences and learned a lot from them.

Does anyone have an internship for the fall yet? I just accepted mine for a newspaper, and am quite excited. I LOVE LOVE LOVE magazines, but it might be interesting to try my hand at something new this fall.

I'm going into my senior year, as I'm sure many of you are, and I can't believe it!! If you're reading this as a freshman let me tell you- ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF COLLEGE- take advantage of each and every opportunity presented because before you know it, you're out there in the real world working and trying to create a life/career.

Anyway enough with the goodbyes...my words for today:

First I can't believe this weather! My hair grew about three inches as I stepped out of the subway this morning, and I'm sure yours did as well!!

This week is almost done (thank god it's wednesday!) and hopefully this weekend will be really nice. Last weekend I managed to hit up an amazing Mexican resturant- it's called Mamma Mexicana and it's on 3rd and E 49th. SOOOO Good!! It's one of those legit places that make the guacamole at your table- and their Sangria and Margaritas were awesome. Hit it up after work one of these weekends to give yourself one last NYC hoorah.

I'm working on some random projects, but mostly closing up some loose ends- and that's about it. I'm also listening to 20 on 20 xm radio via my computer which is quite fun and really breaks up the day.

As always, email me with questions/comments/etc- edsmoneyblogger@gmail.com

more tomorrow
xoxox money gal ;)

Top o' the Morning! (Er, afternoon.)

Don't mind the British-themed blog title — I'm just brushing up my accent for my trip to London this fall :)

I have tons of work to do today, but I wanted to share a quick find with you guys: The Intern Queen! Follow her on Twitter (@internqueen) and check out her blog, internqueen.com/blog. Today's post has some great tips on turning a boring internship into a great one!

Hope everyone has a mahhh-velous Monday, although I'm still mourning media legend Walter Cronkite.

And that's the way it is.

xoxo,
cyber intern

The Halfway Mark

Happy Friday, Edsters! Another week has come and gone, and I'm starting to wonder how half of the summer has already evaporated. Well, at least it's starting to feel like summer outside, even if the humidity is making my hair frizz. I just don't consider it true summertime until the dog days when I'm sweating it out the minute I step outside my air-conditioned office building. But I think that time has come!

I recently read an article on Salon.com about life after a print-journalism education. Now I'm not suggesting membership in a professional gun club like certain NYT articles (that'll make you curious enough to read it!), but there's an interesting overarching message amongst all the paranoia. It's ironic that information is permanent, but the world is in motion. Some people are paralyzed by the rapid motion — those are the people who will be left behind during this era of change. But you can't let the medium hold you back; there's tons of stories out there still waiting to be told. The human race loves a great sob story, a great comeback, a great "ohmigod" saga.

Speaking of sagas! I can't wait to see The September Issue, a documentary feature film about EIC Anna Wintour and the pseudo-reality that is Vogue. It looks hoity-toity, but isn't that what draws us in? It's slated for release on August 28, so mark your calendars and program your Blackberrys! (Fun fact: AP Style tweeted that the plural of 'Blackberry' is 'Blackberrys,' not 'Blackberries.')

Anyway, I've been super crazy busy these past few weeks. I'm growing to love my internship more and more as time passes. I've been writing online quizzes (and racking up the bylines!), interviewing some celebs, attending movie premieres and holiday gift guide events, and covering concerts. I'm also getting a hair makeover at a premiere NYC salon for a before/after feature on my mag's Web site, which I'm beyond pumped about. My hair is usually (read: always) a hot mess — it's super-curly and untameable. So I'm looking forward for a change-up, especially since I'm studying abroad in the fall! I'm trying to reveal some juicy deets, although I do have to keep it as vague as possible.

And to close on a happy note, check out this article about how J-Schools are still going strong. Love it.

xoxo,
cyber intern

The Best Things in Life

Today at work was probably one of the weirdest days I've had in my internship so far. Normally Mondays are painstakingly slow, but today certain departments existed in a flurry of activity (fashion closet, features department), while others waxed and waned between panicked and comatose (news, copy editing).

I've been charged with a short feature: interviewing a designer about her first collection of accessories for spring of next year (remember, fashion happens six months in advance). I'm to figure out her inspiration, her technique and the price points of her new collection. All this morning I was on the phone or typing away furiously trying to get in contact with her or the public relations person who might be able to put me in contact with her. When I finally did get in touch with the magic PR lady, I was told that they would get back to me by the end of the day.

Did that happen? It did not. But just in case, I sat near my phone and in front of my computer for the rest of the day like a puppy waiting for its owner to come home, hoping they would call me back. In between that, I stuffed envelopes and did research for one of the assistant editors, but I never got a phone call that pertained to my story.

So after crazy bouts of productivity and laziness, I came home and decided that I needed a one dollar slice of pizza. I was lucky to find 2 Bros. Pizza on St. Mark's. It was a bit of a walk for me, but if you live in the East Village, I highly recommend it. Buyers beware - pepperoni costs an extra 50 cents. If you show up with one dollar, you're only going to get cheese.

Just a tip: If you buy a pair of pants at Uniqlo, they'll tailor them for free! Go now before everything goes off sale.

Have a good night, interns! More tomorrow!

Welcome Back to Reality

Hey Edsters! Hope everyone had a fun July 4th weekend, but now it's back to the grindstone — waking up early this morning was rough. It was finally "real" summer weather! I was able to blow the dust off my bathing suits and take a dip, and I'm eating BBQ leftovers for lunch today. (To save $$, I mostly brown-bag it.)

I spent the weekend in Washington DC — unfortunately no Obama spottings, although the 4th was Malia's birthday! — where I went to the Newseum. For those of you who haven't been or haven't even heard of it, it's a must-see for anyone vaguely interested in the media, or even those who aren't. This 250,000-square-foot museum of news blends five centuries of news history with up-to-date exhibits on technology convergence and the 2009 election.

My favorite parts of the Newseum included the exhibit of all the Pulitzer-Prize-winning photographs throughout history; the 9/11 memorial floor (with never-before-seen video footage and an antenna from the WTC); and the cases of pullout drawers with front pages from newspapers dating back centuries. Oh yeah, and on the broadcast journalism floor, you can even record yourself on TV! Not gonna lie, I was pretty close to buying a shirt from the gift shop that read "Not Tonight, Dear — I'm On Deadline." Loved every minute of the 4+ hours I spent there!

Before I get back to work, I have another tidbit to share with all you interns, whether you're working hard or hardly working. I read an article called "Say Hello to Underachieving" by Alex Williams yesterday on the front page of the Style Section of the NYT. It's basically about the tough job market for college students and recent grads who are facing the longest recession period since the 1930s. One of the stats that hit home for me: the unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds is 24 percent, up from 16.1 percent just two years ago. Oy. And internships available to college students have fallen 21 percent since last year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The article failed to mention suggestions for the jobless — like volunteering, freelancing, blogging, or even starting your own business (think: babysitting, offering graphic design/tech help to elderly folks in your community who can barely turn on a computer). There are options out there, but this article still sent chills down my back.

Anyway, sorry to end on that note, but I thought it was a staple for young collegiates like us. Stay optimistic!

xoxo,
cyber intern

Monday!

Hey Edsters!

It's Monday again, but at least the weather is nice!! I don't know about you, but I had quite a hard time getting out of bed today after having Friday off!

Anyway I hope you all had a great weekend and got to see some fireworks. The Macy's ones were awesome!!

So a new week, a new month, and most of us are more than half way through with our internships. Any suggestions for possibly getting that last byline (or first) before the term is up? Perhaps I'll talk about that tomorrow...or at the very least at some point next week.

Have a great day interns, I promise I'll find a great topic for tomorrow =)

as always,

your faithful money intern xoxo

Fake Friday!

Happy Fake Friday Interns!!

It's fake friday because most of the big publishing houses (and companies in NYC in general) have tomorrow off for the holiday. Check your company calendars and make sure you get it off too!! (I wonder if we get paid because it's a company holiday-- I HOPE SO!!)

Anyway hope your week went well!! Any fun plans for the fourth? Anything I should know about ;)? Email me!! Edsmoneyblogger at gmail dot com!!

I'm heading down to Long Island this weekend to hang with some college friends and couldn't be more excited! I'm leaving from Penn Station this Saturday because the traffic is going to be awful!! But! the train is quick and clean (for the most part) and makes me feel tres New York!

This will be my last post for the week because I'm also getting ready for my younger brother to spend a month in Europe for college credit. It's exciting but also kind of weird because he's five years younger than me and although at his age I was doing the same things, I can't help but feel a little protective.

My internship has unfortunately not really materialized into what I had hoped. I keep trying to get more work, but it seems like the amount of work is dwindling, not increasing as I had thought it would. I think for Editors, to teach the Interns how to do something they could do themselves might be hard? But that's what we are here for!! I want to learn, I want to do work!! And yet, most of the time, my requests go unanswered. I'm still trying to learn as much as I can and really get a handle on this business they call publishing- it's absolutely where I want to be, I just have to find the right spot. Hopefully I'll be able to do that immediately after graduation.

Maybe Fashion Intern and Trade Intern could give me some advice (and of course Cyber Intern)-- Do you like your industries better? I feel like both Fashion and Trade get to do so many interesting things throughout the week and I'm thinking Fashion writing may be where I'm heading as my original dream--writing for the NY Times-- may be out since the NY Times may no longer exist in it's current form. Is that scary- yes of course!! I don't think the NYTimes will go out of business (it cannot! I rely on it so much!) but! i do think within the next year or so it will dramatically change.

OH!! I forgot to tell you about this interns!! I checked out Adobe Air- which is the platform that the NY Times Reader uses- and it's awesome! It's kind of like cover flow in iTunes and it has a similar apple feel. I'm going to download it on my laptop (macbook pro) and play with it. I'll let you know what I think of it.

Have a safe and fun weekend!!

xoxoxo $$ Intern ;)

Who runs the Board of Ed-

Hey All,

Okay so for those of you not familiar with the NYC education system here's the deal. NYC had a board of education run independently of the Mayor's office until about 7 years ago when Bloomberg (who I happen to like) took it over. This system has been working; but now with all the problems in Albany (basically a bunch of elected officials who cannot seem to work together as adults (this is obviously a strict opinion)) we still don't know who actully runs the schools as of today, July 1st. There's a great article about this in AMNY which is why I'm talking about it.

AMNY is, although it's free, a great paper and a great way to find out things about local happenenings. For example there was a free yoga class in Bryant Park (42nd and 6th to about 42nd and 5th) yesterday and it also gives a listing of all movie times at local theaters.

Basically it's short and to the point news perfectly fit to be read on the subway.

Anyway how are all of you!! Email me with some new questions or topics you'd like covered @ Edsmoneyblogger at gmail dot com. I'd love to address any questions you may have and i'd love to hear what's been going on at your internships. You can (of course) keep it anonymous!!

Enjoy the day interns and remember tomorrow's the last day before the three day weekend!!

XOXO
Money Chick

Tuesday!

Hey Interns!

Can you believe it's June 30th already!! Hard to believe I know! In two short months I'll be heading back to school, and I'm sure most of you will be too, with tons of knowledge and contacts in the magazine industry!

Keep working hard interns and also start filling out those fall apps!! I don't know how many of you plan to stay at your current internship, (or how many have been guaranteed a spot) but I always like to be safe rather then sorry.

Some great databases- Ed2010 (of course!), Cub Reporters, Journalism Jobs, JobFox, and of course the old staples like Monster. Another option is to go directly to the company Web site and search there. Nowadays many companies have highly useful and organized databases for jobs and internships and they allow you to post your resume, apply for the job and keep tabs on your status all from their website. Craigslist is also good, although some of these aren't paid. MANY OF THE JOB SITES I LISTED HAVE PAID INTERNSHIPS!! Hey, I know it's hard being a college student (I am one!) so why not get experience and some moolah? Go for it!! This summer's experience will definitely help, but if you haven't been interning, never fear, you could still find a great internship for the fall.

Another helpful hint- keep an excel sheet (I prefer to use the one available through gmail, as it is easier to navigate then Microsoft's) with the headings: Company, Job Applied for on, Emailed Resume, Sent Resume to HR (and list contact), Put Resume on the Company Site, Heard Back on, and comments. This way you can keep track of the jobs you apply to and the status of each application.

And finally, use TWITTER, Facebook, MySpace, ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you can think of to connect with the outside (hiring) world.

Good luck! And keep working hard!! And enjoy the gorgeous day- I think I might even treat myself to some Tasti D Lite today =)

xxx Money Blogger

She Told Me Her Name Was Billie Jean...

It's the end of an Era my friends. Michael Jackson- The King of Pop, Wacko Jacko, MJ- whatever you chose to call him, is dead. As I sit listening to Billie Jean, I cannot believe it. He is iconic. Although I was born at the end of the 80s, as I'm sure many of you were, 80s music has always been part of my life. It's been the backgrounds of birthdays, sweet sixteens, and weddings throughout my entire life, and now suddenly he is gone.

Another tragedy struck the media/entertainment world yesterday as well- The original Angel- Farrah Fawcett died. It is unbelievable to me that both these 70s/80s stars are gone.

Anyway, no real big news except that I've been reading "Your So Money, Live Rich even when Your Not" By Farnoosh Torabi- it's a gold mine!! Literally it definitely helps all 20-somethings' monetary planning needs, and doesn't suggest that we live on tuna alone for a month to afford those Manolos.

So basically, read the book, tease your hair, turn on some MJ and moon walk your way through the 70s, 80s and 90s this weekend...it looks like it's gonna be really nice out- more Monday Edsters...

-- money intern

Undercover, Under Pressure

That's so scary that Fashion Intern has been found out! I'll be honest, though - I've definitely been trying to figure out who my fellow intern bloggers are. (Cyber Intern, I thought I almost had you for a second, there - there's a girl in my building who also went jazz-club hopping this past weekend, and I totally thought it was you!)

That said, I think it's important that we do everything we can to protect ourselves as anonymous insider bloggers. Money Intern, Fashion Intern, Cyber Intern and I are all performing what seems to be a pretty valuable service. And although not every post gets a deluge of comments, it is clear that we have a dedicated group of followers who are looking for ways to improve their chances at the office.

At the same time, we're all working for companies that have serious confidentiality clauses. We may or may not be risking our internships by posting every day. I've done what I can to protect my anonymity (including sometimes, ahem, blurring certain details about my day), and I know the rest of us are doing the same thing. My heart goes out to Fashion Intern - if human resources asks you about this, lie like a dog! It seems to me like you're doing a really great job at whichever publication you're working for, and that anyone who might try to use this blog against you is just damn jealous of your success.

Just a tip: If you do get a to write something, check every word twice, then check every word three more times. Just because an editor tells you that something is spelled one way does not mean that's how it's actually spelled. Plus, you'll just end up feeling like a complete failure if something like that gets past you.

Have a great night, interns! More tomorrow!

- Trade Intern

Tomorrow = Free Pinkberry Day!

Happy almost-Friday! Actually, I think Thursday might be one of my favorite days of the week. It's leading up to the culmination of the week, and anticipation is always the best part. When I leave work on Thursdays, I often feel like it's Friday, though, which can be a tad disappointing.

Fashion Intern: Glad to hear you're part of the Twitterati as well! Thanks for the shout-out, and you gave some great additional tips. (Confession: I get breaking news in text alert, too -- in fact, just received one from CNN about Michael Jackson in cardiac arrest?!)

I've been super-busy today with various projects, so I'll do more of an update tomorrow. But for now, here's some suggestions to perk up your Friday:

-Get a FREE small Pinkberry tomorrow in one of the new flavors, coconut and passion fruit! Mmm, dee-lish.

-Bored of the same old salad for lunch? Check out Chop't (in NYC and DC only) to mix up your options - and your ingredients!

Everyone getting pumped for 4th of July weekend? Hope you all have some fun escapes planned, seeing as we'll all have off on Friday the 3rd! Personally, I'm trekking down to Washington, DC for what I've heard are the most spectacular fireworks around.

xoxo,
cyber intern

This is Where the Title Goes

OK. I know it might seem like I'm being a brat about balancing all of the cool things I'm getting to do with all of the mundane tasks that have to get done before I can enjoy the cool stuff, but the reality is that sometimes, a bunch of smaller, simpler tasks can be more fun than one gigantic assignment.

For example, one day last week, I had to schedule and confirm a lunch for our editor in chief, schedule dinner for the news director, mail out about a thousand back issues (that I hand addressed!) to advertisers and friends of various market editors, round up the girls in the fashion closet for an impromptu intern lunch, then help them with returns, call up a few buyers for quotes on a story that one of our editors was working on, and make sure that all of our satellite editors could get on conference calls so that they could participate in our news staff meeting from their offices in Los Angeles, Detroit and Atlanta. At the same time.

All of this was interspersed with coffee runs, distributing mail, organizing various little bits of fashion all over the office and generally making sure I had a spoon stirring every pot on the stove at all times.

The day was great! It went by super fast and I was proud of myself because I accomplished a lot and really helped a lot of people get a lot of things done.

What did I do today? I sat around for eight hours (because there was literally nothing else to do) waiting for ONE person whom I absolutely had to talk to to call me back. When he finally did, he talked to me for five minutes, then got a call on his other line, flashed over and never called me back. As happy as I am to be getting bylines, it's pretty frustrating when you have to deal with people like that.

Look, the fact of the matter is that we're all in this for the long haul. I wouldn't be busting my butt everyday if I didn't want to impress my bosses and try to get a job at some point in the future. I guess I vent here sometimes because I think it's a safe place, a sounding board for all of our complaints and issues. Being an intern is a great opportunity, especially in an economic climate that's making people in our industry think three times before hiring someone. Any intern who complains all the time about the perils of the job that a million other kids would kill for is crazy. But any intern who's afraid to admit that, sometimes, being an intern sucks is even crazier.

It's a Media Revolution

Something I've been talking a lot about lately is Twitter. Please don't roll your eyes; hear me out. I've chatted to most areas of the spectrum, and divided peeps into 4 major categories:

a) Anti-Twitterers. They know what Twitter is all about, and they still think it's stupid and pointless. (Or at least that's what they say - who knows if they have a secret account!)

b) The "we don't get it" crowd. They don't like Twitter for the sole reason that they don't understand its advantages and think the craze is fleeting.

c) The average users. These Twitterers have accounts, and might update occasionally when they've seen a fabulous movie (Transformers, anyone?) or hit up an awesome sample sale.

d) The addicts. The Twitterati (I swear it's a phrase, coined by Twitter obviously) love to tweet night and day, but it's often with purpose. Not gonna lie, I'm included in this grouping.


I've attended several meetings and info sessions on social media for my internship, and Twitter has been a focal point. I mean, I even heard talk that Twitter creators are in the running for a Nobel prize, but I'm pretty sure that's just heresay. Lots of top execs are struggling to comprehend Twitter's changing role in society, and how to tweet most effectively. For example, do you tell the world about your delish sandwich at Whole Foods, or do you wait until you've found a really interesting article in the Times?

My position is the ladder. Twitter is about sharing a scene, photo, link, or story so it can spread information massively and quickly - or to tell a story (in 140 words or less, that is). It can empower people and enforce change. This has been especially demonstrated by its role in the Iran election (read more on that here).

What I'm trying to say is that you, the intern, still have valuable skills to share with CEOs and Editors-in-Chief. You're the one who can give them the scoop about Twitter, about re-Tweeting, about achieving a proper following-follower balance. If your mag has a Twitter, volunteer to help monitor it (fabulous bragging rights). If it doesn't, volunteer to create one! Since I've become a Twitter addict, I use it almost more than my Facebook. While trusty ol' FB is great to chat with friends and upload photo albums from a weekend at the shore, it's pretty much confined to my network of friends and acquaintances. On Twitter, I can also follow celebs (Tina Fey, Michelle Obama), the media industry (Ed2010, The New Yorker, Huffington Post, the AP Stylebook), brands (Pinkberry, Crumbs cupcakes) and news updates (NYT, CNN, Perez). I'm even following some co-workers and professors. I can log on, and in a page or two, I can see what's going on in all spheres of my life.

I hope this was inspiring to those of you in groups A and B - the anti-Twitters and indifferent-Twitterers. On a completely different note, if any of you are considering a change in career paths, click here for a slightly more lucrative option.

xoxo,
cyber intern

Print is Dead?

So many people have been saying this lately and I am desperately hoping that it isn't true. And if you look at the numbers, my fellow Edsters, it may not be.

Magazine's have had a significant rise in readership since the beginning of the Recession, mainly because people are staying home more often, and people are going to be loyal to the brands they like. So what does this teach us- Interns hoping to break into the Print Media- it teachs us to always produce the best brand/product in our class. It teachs us to be the best reporters we can be, and by that I mean reading newspapers, blogs, forums, Twitter feeds, Facebook group feeds, etc. basically anything and everything that can give us a story idea and possibly (hey who am I kidding) ultimately land us a job, and an opportunity to help improve the face of media communication as we know it.

I was reading a few things yesterday and someone from the company I'm working at this summer, spoke to us about the changes in Mass Comm. I'm so excited!! To be a part of this change- from print to digital in one way or another, not necessarily online digital media- can be acquated to the days of Ed Murrow and his live radio newscasts, and then his expose on McCarthy. I think we, the interns of today- editors of Tomorrow- have a chance to help influence something great. A new change!! THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES!!

I for one, am going to definitely start doing my homework- because acing the interview is the first step. More on that tomorrow.

Enjoy the day, which I think might be rainy, but at least it's hump day =)

xoxo money intern

You Don't Know What You've Got Til It's Gone

Hi Edsters! Sorry I've been MIA the past 2 days, but I've been super-busy at work with meeting celebs, blogging nonstop, attending some cool after-work press events, and even getting to meet the Ed-in-Chief!

I can’t believe I’m already starting my fourth week at my internship. While I feel like it was just yesterday I had the first-day jitters, at the same time, I feel like I’ve been commuting into the city for months. Do you guys feel the same way?

That being said, I’d like to take a moment for internship appreciation. Many of us take our opportunities for granted, even if it’s just doing a coffee run for editors or making billions of copies. The truth is, we’re getting experience in the type of workplace that we’d ultimately like to end up in after graduation. I’m not saying that all of us interns will end up as magazine editors – proficiency in writing and communications can really take us anywhere. I’m talking about the here-and-now. You already have a foot in the door – regardless of where you’re interning, whether it be Vogue or a tiny fashion mag in Philly. You don’t realize what amazing experience you’re gaining until it’s over, when you chat with people who were camp counselors or ice cream scoopers all summer. You realize you were lucky enough to be in a workplace that produced a glamorous glossy book every month (or week, or day) – one that you were proud to call yourself a part of.

If possible, if you're one of several interns at your magazine or in your department, I recommend finding a niche or "beat" to always cover. While you should always be on the lookout for possible new content your mag might include, it's good to identify a particular aspect of your mag that really interests you. For example, the past few days, I've been covering the music scene online. It started out when I got assigned several new bands to look into, and now I've started a regular "band spotlight" type of blog. Just show your editor that you're passionate!

Hope everyone is having a terrific Tuesday. And I promise, no more missed Ed posts!

xoxo,
cyber intern

The High Low

The High:

Time: 8:09 a.m.

Date: 22 June 2009

From: accessories_editor@fashiontrademag.com

To: editorial_intern@fashiontrademag.com

Trade Intern,

Hope you had a good weekend. I'd like for you to get the ball rolling on a story about the rising cost of leather and its effect on the price of men's luggage and accessories. We're looking for about 1,000 words, so you should interview some manufacturers, a few shoppers (you may want to go out to Bergdorf Goodman or Jeffrey for this) and at least three buyers for major retailers.

You have until Friday at noon to get all of this done. If you have any questions, please direct them to my assistant, who will be able to get in touch with me.

Thanks,

Accessories Editor

The Low:

Time: 8:15 a.m.

Date: 22 June 2009

From: accessories_editor@fashiontrademag.com

To: editorial_intern@fashiontrademag.com

Trade Intern,

Also, while you're out, I need you to pick up my dry cleaning and a pair of shoes I sent out to be re-soled. Make sure to get a receipt from your taxi driver so that we can expense the trip.

Thanks,

Accessories Editor

See what I mean?

Have a good night, interns! More tomorrow.

- Trade Intern

Week 5- Monday

Another Monday, and from the looks of it, it seems like it might actually be nice today. The t-storms last night were quite loud and actually woke me up!!

Anyway hopefully you had a fun weekend!! I went shopping and picked up a few things for Father's Day and of course a few things for me!

I have a meeting today at 10:30, which will probably tell me what exactly I need to do this week. And then I can get started!

No real insightful news/ideas today- I'll do a little research and get back to you tomorrow =)

Have a good monday!

Friday!!!

YAY! It is finally friday my friends!!

Just a quick post today- Monday I promise to be back with more quirky hints, tips and tricks and perhaps a resturant review or two!!

So what do I want you to do this weekend? Whatever you want!! Check out AM NY or Metro (which can both be found outside any subway station) to see what's going on in the City- I happen to know that Macys is having a 2 day sale (25%-80% off!?!) and that AM NY has a $10 coupon in it!!

And also since it's going to be nice check out the South Street Seaport (off the East Side) or Chelsea Piers (off the West Side).

There's also a cool bar for tonight- Johnny Utah's on W 51st right across from Rockefeller Center--- it has the ONLY (according to their Web site) mechanical bull in Manhattan!!

Have fun tonight, and as always be safe Edsters-

xxxx See ya Monday ;)

Event Horizon

There may come a point in time during your internship when an editor asks you to accompany him or her to an event. And you'll go because, come on, it's a great opportunity to get some one-on-one time with someone who isn't your day-to-day supervisor, and you get to learn a little bit more about how the industry works.

But then you get there, and all illusions of being able to talk to that editor are dashed. Dashed because you are in one of the city's oldest, most beautiful buildings, surrounded by people in priceless couture or amazing street style. And you won't know what to say. Three hundred people, decked out in Louis and Louboutin, will surround you, and you, in your Zara jeans and shoes from Topshop, your standard-issue cotton/linen blazer and strip mall-caliber accessories, will be unable to do anything.

Anything, that is, but gush when you bump into your favorite celebrity stylist. Anything but fawn over the oh-so-stylish wife of one of the men who revolutionized the industry you want to write about. Anything but try not to squeal with envy when you count not one, not two, but three candy-colored crocodile Birkins in the rows ahead of you.

Then you'll notice the gift bags. You didn't think you'd be getting anything other than a few sips of Pellegrino from the reception area, but there's one there - it's in your seat, waiting for you to open it up and delve inside. There's a copy of the magazine that shares a floor with yours in there - and is that a discount card for that awesome store you pass on the way back from work every day?

And it hits you: You've stepped into your dream. The people in the great seats (two rows from the stage!) next to and in front of you were probably in your seat this side of ten or 15 years ago.

You'll see what you want your future to look like. And you'll be speechless.

And then your editor, who knows the effect all of this is having on you, will smile and remind you that you're both there to work, not to play. And she'll nudge you in the direction of an honoree to get a quote or two for your magazine's Web site.

And you'll go straight back to work. Because that's what a good intern does.

Have a good night, interns! More tomorrow.

- Trade Intern

Star-Struck in NYC

Surprise, surprise – more rain! My plan to wear a cute polka-dot dress with my new red pumps was thwarted. Instead I’m wearing pants and a sweater because of this mean trick that Mother Nature is playing on us.

Things go so much more quickly when you’re in pow-wows all day! Yesterday, I got the opportunity to meet the entertainment editor to talk about interviewing celebs. She gave the interns some great tips, including the "silent trick" after asking a question. Don't be so concerned with asking all the questions you've prepared - instead, let it flow like a normal conversation and pause after each question, letting the interviewee fill the silence. (aka, if you're interviewing Beyonce, let her do the talking. I'd be totally calm, right?)

The entertainment head was so nonchalant about working with big shots. To her, PR and networking with celebs is strictly a business - I guess if you’re in the business, you need to see it as a business. You can't exactly come off as a creepy star-struck stalker... cough cough...

Then later that afternoon, a fledging singer came into the office to play some songs off her new soundtrack for the Web staff. Hey, I might have heard Z100's new hottest single ahead of time!

Lots of work to do today, so that's all for now. But in the meantime, to cheer you up on this gloomy day, here's an awesome site for all you Edsters on the cheap. It boasts daily listings of free things to buy, do, see, and eat in NYC: The Skint. Bookmark it ASAP!

xoxo,
cyber intern

Thursday

Hey Interns,

So sorry again for missing yesterday- it's the first week of production for us over here in money world and I cannot believe how busy it is!

There's just so many things to be done- from call backs, to photo shoots, to fact checking! There simply aren't enough hours in a day.

The other day I learned about how a magazine produces it's monthly issues. The first 5-6 weeks (at most magazines, not all) are dedicated to "closing" out the editorial parts of the magazine. The business (or publishing/production) side deals with getting ads for each individual issue and most of this is done throughout the year, but not necessarily on the same time table as the editorial parts. After the editorial closes out, with all the stories, art and other necessary items ready, these parts are sent to a printer who (depending on the binding style) can take anywhere from one to two to even three (for perfect binding (mags like Cosmo, InStyle, and Vogue)) to create the magazine.

It's unbelievable how much time goes into producing monthly mags, and also how quickly weekly mags complete the same process.

Anyway, sorry for the missed/shorten posts, tomorrow should be better.

Try and stay out of the nasty weather today!!

xoxo money intern

CFDA.JPG

After a week of fulfilling an editorial intern’s dream – Writing a story! On
my own page! With a byline! – today I finally started getting assigned tasks
that reminded me exactly where I am in the chain of command. This morning I
sifted through literally thousands of frames from Monday’s CFDA awards to
find 20 that were suitable for next week’s issue. Then I called and confirmed a few appointments for a few higher-ups, and then I called in a few quotes on a story that our accessories editor was working on.

After lunch, I got to see first hand how the magazine's feature departments pulls together its stories in my first writers' meeting. It was really interesting to see how a story goes from a simple concept to a budgeted item - for an issue four months in the future - in under an hour.

It's after midnight now, but I do want to tell everyone about a cool thing that I got to do after work. I'm actually just getting in from the event - I went straight there from the office, which is why this post is so late coming. But it was probably the coolest thing I've done in New York so far, and I'll have details tomorrow.

Have a great night, interns! More tomorrow

- Trade Intern

The Art of Googling

Three words: search engine optimization. That's one of the most important things to know about in today's world of web, even if you're not into the whole "print is being dominated by digital" spiel. As one of my friends put it in non-techie language, SEO means making yourself Google-fabulous (def: coming up within the top few results in a Google search). We had a intern session yesterday during which I learned all about the joys of SEO, blogging, and other web tips. So I'm gonna give you the exclusive scoop!

-Resumes are important, but the concrete work you have to show for yourself is more important. Flaunt your personal blogs (even if they're just rants about your boss at work, or about how Twitter is taking over the world). Talk up that Web site that you helped to build. This work speaks volumes more than resumes. But I'm not underplaying resumes - you'll definitely need one to simply get in the door. Making a resume Web site is also a cool tool!

-Learn Dreamweaver. The Noble Desktop on Broadway offers free seminars, and you can also check out the ones that are advertised on MediaBistro. Or teach yourself by perusing the online guidebook! ("Dreamweaver for Dummies," anyone?) Even if you haven't made a web page with Dreamweaver, being able to brag that you know the skills will help you one-up others vying for the same job or internship.

-Know the difference between writing for the Web and writing for print. Online, those clever, witty headlines that editors spend oodles of time thinking of don't really work. Users are less likely to click on something like "Come Undone" (for a look-book of summer dresses) even though it might totally work in the actual mag. Instead, online, you need titles that tell users exactly what they'll get: think more along the lines of "Our 10 Favorite Summer Dresses." There's lots of opportunities to combine creativity and straightforwardness - you just have to dig!

-A surefire way of getting a job in digital: think of ways that Web sites can make moolah (besides selling ad space or charging for online content). That's the biggest issue Web is facing right now. People are still clinging to the print model beacuse that's the primary way of rakin' in the dough.

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Hope this post made everyone a bit more web-savvy! In other news, for your viewing pleasure, here's a hilarious video that one of my fellow interns found. All I'm gonna say is Lady Gaga, Just Dance, and Congressman McMahon. Watch it here!

xoxo,
cyber intern

Busy, Busy Bee

I hate re-apologizing for not posting as regularly as I have in the past, but as many of you can attest, being an intern is really fun, but also really exhausting. Don’t get me wrong – I’m having a fabulous time working at my magazine, but having fun doesn’t make the hours any shorter, contrary to popular belief.

Today was an interesting combination of occurrences that made me feel like a real part of the team at my magazine, and that definitely reminded me that I’m just a lowly intern. Our editor in chief’s assistant is out on sick leave, so all of the work that she normally handles has been assigned to me. This includes, but by no means is limited to, sorting mail, calling to confirm dinners and appointments, sifting through wire photos to have images to run with stories. But I also get to do really cool stuff like write some of the stories I pull art for, and live-Tweeting fun fashion industry events.

So far I’ve been working on a short piece for the magazine that has required me to do several interviews with public relations people all over the country. It’s just a small informational piece, so I’ve been calling around trying to get dates, times, locations and notable facts from people.

I’ve been working on this small story since last week, and I had most of it ready on Friday (it was due on Monday). One woman, however, refused to answer my emails and phone calls. I talked with her associates and assistants in both of her offices (one in LA, the other here in New York). It was an exercise in self control not to scream at her when she finally got back to me late this afternoon.

But other than waiting on one infuriating person for days on end, I’m learning a lot, and the experience is totally worth having to call that poor woman’s assistant about 40 times in a week.

Just a tip: I’m learning that Twitter is a huge part of many major companies’ marketing strategy. Some will even let their followers know when they’re having sales or special promotions.

What companies do you follow on Twitter?

Busy!

Hey Edsters,

Sorry for the missed post- I've been so busy over here in money-land that I completely forgot (sorry?!) about the blog!!

Apparently, as I am now beginning my 4th week in the wonderful world of magazines, there is quite a lot of chaos as a magazine closes, and I have been learning all about it this week. The other thing that's hard to believe is how many months in advance Magazines need to plan. I am assuming that all magazines run on similar time tables and thus plan at least one to two months in advance. It's unbelievable to think that some of the stuff I'm currently working on may not been read by "real" people until there's snow on the ground, and I'm all warm and cozy in my college library "studying" for my finals!! How do they stay current!! That's a big question I plan to try to answer as I work here. Most magazines, I think, do a great job of staying in the know, particularly the fashion/beauty mags, despite this large time span between writing the articles and actually printing the book.

I hope you are reading all the posts on this blog, because I am, and I find so many of the other interns hits and tricks to be quite helpful!!

Alright more tomorrow, gotta get back to work!!

:D -- Money Intern

Rain or Shine?

Happy Monday, Edsters! Enjoying this crazy weather? I was woken up at 4 a.m. last night by insane thunderstorms, and now it's sunny as can be. I just don't think I can bring myself to call this "summer" (or break out my sundresses) until it's consistently cloudless and 90 degrees.

In other news, hope everyone had a fun weekend! I spent Friday night in Union Square with some friends, which was a good time. But I need to start getting better sleep on the weeknights -- I dozed off on our way out on the subway! (Waking up at 6:45 am every day to catch the train probably isn't helping.) I also finally saw the Hangover this weekend. It was as hilarious as expected; apparently, the concept of road-tripping to Vegas never gets old. But the audience in the theater was a bit awkward. I was surrounded by elderly men and women (I'm talking about in their late 60s or 70s) who were wheezing with laughter after the opening bit where Zach Galifianakis bares his booty.

Over the weekend, I also read a pretty interesting article in the NYT Magazine about combining dictionaries and thesauri (just kidding, the plural is thesauruses). Amongst some of William Safire's mumbo-jumbo, he hits on a point that I think we can all relate to: abbreviations (or perhaps you simply refer to them as "abbrevs"). It's an interesting take. He makes the argument that abbrevs might not only be a phenomenon with Gen-Yers, but more of a trend of big words and thick dictionaries losing their meaning in society.

Later today, I get to attend a meet-n-greet with one of the winners from American Idol! (Sorry, but I can't divulge names.) While I haven't watched the show since Kelly & Justin, I'm always psyched for a celeb sighting.

For those of you who like to plan ahead, I have a suggestion to perk up your Friday mornings:

Today Show Concert Series
Rockefeller Plaza (49th Street b/w 5th and 6th Ave)
Fridays from June 5 to Aug 21, 7 - 10 a.m.

Good Morning America Concert Series
Rumsey Field (5th Ave and 72nd St, Central Park)
Fridays from June 5 to Aug 21, 7 a.m.


I know 7 is a bit early to rise, but just grab a cup o' joe and grin and bear it. Coming up this Friday: The JoBros on the Today Show, and Jamie Foxx on GMA!

xoxo,
cyber intern

Work the Net

If Ed's told us once, he's told us a million times: sometimes, who you know can be just as important as what you know. In some publishing houses, it's more important than what you know.

With that in mind, I've been trying to get to know as many of the people who work around me as possible. Whether they're interns, assistants or seasoned editors, I wanna know who they are, what they do, and how they might be able to help me get a job in the future.

So, this morning, I delivered mail to the editorial and publishing sides of two different magazines and a completely different department on our floor that has nothing to do with publishing whatsoever (I still have yet to figure out what they do). It was certainly an adventure, and I got to meet a lot of different people.

It was not only an exercise in icebreaking, but also a great way to see how a magazine works. This goes without saying, but keeping a brand alive takes more than a dedicated editorial staff. There are two ad reps for every staff writer, a healthy web staff, a team of girls in our multiple fashion closets who really can run in heels, and all of the market editors and writers and assistants and photographers and designers you could ever hope to meet.

If you have the time, take the opportunity to get to know your staff better. You'll make a lot of contacts, you'll get to know how your book runs, and the people who have dedicated offices with doors that close might stop referring to you as "the intern."

Have a good weekend, kids! More on Monday!

- Trade Intern

A Lovely Weekend Exploit

Happy Friday! One of the great things about living in New York is the abundance of people and neighborhoods. Thus, it’s not too hard to find a place to suit your mood. If you wake up feeling hipster, hop on the subway and spend the day in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. If you’re in the mood to strut in your hot new pumps, take a walk down 5th Ave. Perhaps the greatest challenge is actually exploring all of New York’s venues. My recommendation for this weekend is spending Saturday at St. Mark’s Place – it’s a great area for people-watching, tasty food, and bargain shopping.

Take the 6 Train to Astor Place, or the R or W Train to 8th Street, and walk one block east to St. Mark’s Place. You’ll know you’ve arrived (approx 20 seconds into your walk) when you’re suddenly surrounded by street vendors.

First stop: breakfast! If you continue walking about two blocks, you’ll hit Café Orlin (41 St. Mark’s Place at 2nd Ave). Sit outside and enjoy a cup of coffee and strawberry tart while observing the slew of New Yorkers striding along. If you need yet another cup of java afterwards (like yours truly), stop in at the Porto Rico Importing Co. (40 St. Marks Place, b/w 1st and 2nd Ave) is just one block further. You’ll probably get a whiff of the exotic aroma before you see the coffee beans.

Next on your St. Mark’s to-do list: wander. This is the perfect spot to pick up a cheap pair of shades, patterned socks, a neon-green wig, or funky jewelry. One of my favorite stops is Search & Destroy (25 St. Mark’s Place, b/w 2nd and 3rd Ave). If you dig past the creepy voodoo dolls (or not, if that’s your thing), you’ll find some cute vintage tees and Andy Warhol printed canvas totes that are perfect for a daytrip.

Okay, lunchtime! My recommendation is heading to Pommes Frites (123 2nd Ave, b/w St. Mark’s Place and 7th St) to grab some authentic Belgian fries with over 30 sauce options. Or if you’re craving pizza, make a pit-stop at 2 Bros Pizza (32 St. Marks Place b/w 2nd and 3rd Ave) for a $1 slice. I’m a sucker for Asian food, so I also suggest Grand Sichuan (19-23 St. Mark’s Place, b/w 2nd and 3rd Ave). You can get eight soup dumplings for $5.55 at this dumpling joint – a real steal. Clearly dessert will be necessary, so head to Australian Homemade (115 St. Mark’s Place) for a cone of almond hazelnut or homemade coconut truffles.

If you’ve had enough schmoozing, try catching Stomp at the Orpheum Theater (126 Second Ave, b/w St. Marks Place and 7th St) or at the Pearl Theater Company (80 St. Marks Place, b/w 1st and 2nd Ave). The ladder is where the original “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” was performed! Obviously a historical landmark.

Still up for more? Grab dinner at a pub or grab-and-go street vendor. You won’t have the full St. Mark’s experience unless you sink your teeth into a greasy grilled cheese, mozzarella sticks, or roast pork buns. Don’t fret about the calories – you’ve probably worked most of it off by all the walking around St. Mark’s!

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Enjoy your weekend, Edsters! If you decide to hit up St. Mark’s, please comment on this blog and let me know of any other good finds!

xoxo,
cyber intern

FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY!!

YAYAY Friday, the best day of the week- and honestly I think I might have said that last Friday but I just cannot contain my excitement!

Hope you all had a fabulously glamorous week and are loving working in Manhattan at your respective magazines- because I know I am!! The end of my third week has shown me that despite the fact that I'm really not writing as much as I was at my old household mag internship, it's still awesome to 1) Have a job in the Industry 2) be able to work in Manhattan. Working in Manhattan opens your eyes to soooo many things!!

I took the W down to Prince St. yesterday after work to put up those Baked by Melissa quarter cupcakes I spoke about in my cupcake post and let me tell you- they were totally worth the trip!! I brought them home and my family enjoyed them as well!! My favs are the red velvet and the smore cupcakes...oh and the peanut butter ones!! They are just so small and yet sooo satisfying. I can honestly say I had none of that post-Crumbs guilt (bc Crumbs cupcakes are HUGE!). I also noticed, as I was walking around on Broadway, that there are a ton of awesome shops down there! There was a HUGE Nine West (that was having a sandal sale), a Victoria's Secret, a Prada (a little out of my range, but still fun to look at) and a bunch of cute little resturants and such. I'm definitely spending some time there next week!

Another topic I want to remind you about is your magazine/building ID card. Some companies/businesses around your office offer discounts for employees. And since you are a card carrying intern, generally you get those discounts too- but even more so if you are a paid intern. These can often be found on your companies internal website (like the one that opens up on your network linked computer) or on the websites of the shops in the area. Columbus Circle mall shops offer a bunch of discounts to mag employees and students a like (most times you cannot combine them, but remember that NYU plays a huge part in this city and some places often give college discounts all year long).

So basically what I'm trying to say is have fun, save money, and enjoy manhattan!!

Happy Weekend!! Talk to you Monday!!

xoxoxo

A Humble Apology

Hi, everyone!

First, please let me say how sorry I am that I've been kinda lax on the posts this week. I'm just getting into the groove of my new job, and as I've said before it's really busy and it's really hard to get out of my office at a regular time.

In the time that I haven't been honoring my blog commitments, I have been loving getting an inside look at the world of fashion. My office is shoe, clothing and accessory heaven. We don't have one fashion closet, we have several (I haven't counted them all, but I probably haven't even seen all of them, there are so many). Each one is divided into a different category, and each one has a dedicated team of fashion interns who work tirelessly to make sure editors have everything they need for shoots, and then making sure it all gets back to the designers' showrooms on time and in one expensive, glorious piece.

But for me, an editorial intern, work is a little different, and a little more varied. Yesterday I spent most of the morning with an editor visiting different designers to find out what their outlook on the economy and how that's playing into what they're creating for upcoming seasons. As it turns out, the hard selling climate has inspired a lot of people (though I can't say who) to do a lot of really interesting things (though I can't say what). 

What my internship is teaching me more than anything else is that fashion is artistic and glamorous and emotional, but that at the same time it's very business-driven, cold and at times inaccessible. But it's always fun to chat with a new designer or to hunt down an impossibly busy PR person who won't return your calls.

Just a tip: When you're working on something and it's vital that you have a quote from a very specific person, don't let their assistant push you around. Especially if it's a piece that's only going to result in favorable coverage for whoever or whatever you're writing about. Get them quotes!

Have a good night, interns! More tomorrow.

- Trade Intern

Post-Ed Party Blues?

G’afternoon, Edsters! Hope everyone had fun at the Ed Intern Party last night at the Boat Basin Café – I know I did! I schmoozed with other interns and Ed staffers from throughout the city, from Conde to Hearst to Meredith. From what I gleaned, interns’ first weeks at the office have been pretty diverse – some have been assigned high-profile interviews, while others have been snubbed by Anna Wintour in the elevator.

Speaking of Conde, I’ve heard wind that swine flu has hit! First Vogue, now Glamour? I guess they’ll just have to tweet about those $6,000 sundresses from their beds, with a cup of hot tea and a box of tissues.

A few days ago, after work, I visited the parenting magazine that I interned for last summer. I asked my previous supervisor about her experiences as a summer intern, and what she wished she had known. I’m going to share some of the wisdom she imparted:

• At most mags or publishing houses, there is an intranet or directory system that you can use to find info about fellow employees. Use it to your advantage – email some of the people on staff you haven’t met yet (like on the publishing side, if you’re in editorial).
• If there’s a cafe in your building, they might offer half-price lunches after a certain time of day (i.e. 3 pm). Inquire within!
• Interns tend to stay in their cubicles most of the day, rather than scoping out the lay of the land. Most floors, however, have pantries with refrigerators, microwaves, and coffeemakers. So feel free to bring a frozen meal (like a Lean Cuisine) for lunch to save some dough.
• Instead of buying a new bottle of water each day, reuse your old one – refill it at the water cooler at work. Going green is the way to be.

Although it’s a Thursday, I’m probably going to stay in tonight (well, maybe after a happy hour). Ever since I started reading Jodi Picoult’s newest book, Handle With Care, I haven’t been able to put it down! I’m a major Jodi fan – so excited that My Sister’s Keeper is coming out as a movie on June 26. Anyway, Handle With Care is sprinkled with fun facts. My favorite one so far is that “town” is the oldest word in the English language...maybe I’ll throw that out there tonight at dinner with the fam.

Coming up in tomorrow’s blog: your step-by-step guide to enjoying a Saturday in St. Mark’s Place! Be sure to check back :)

xoxo,

cyber intern

Almost the weekend!

One more day till freedom!! If you work full time like I do, then you are definitely quite excited about sleeping in for two days!!

I also plan to do a little shopping this weekend, and will keep you updated if I find any cool new shops in NYC.

Okay short blog today- about the areas in NYC. The New York Magazine describes each and every section of this City and helps you to understand the people who choose to live there.

Some quick definitions:

As a native, I always hear people refer to Soho, TriBeca, NoLita, etc and yet so many of those same people don't know what they mean.

SoHo stands for South of Houston St. (and that's HoWston, not like the city in Texas) NoHo, north of Houston.

NoLIta- North of Little Italy, a new "trendy" neighborhood name.

TriBeCa- Triangle Below Canal

ANDDD since it's Thursday- I think you should treat yourself Interns!! Try out LifeBooker. It's an online site that slices many of the best NYC spa prices in half. They have everything from Massages to Manicures, Pedis to Tanning treatments. It's been mentioned on Oprah and other talk shows, but since Oprah mentioned it, you know it's totally legit! AND if you add them as a friend on Fbook you get even more coupons and deals.

Enjoy!! More tomorrow =) xox

Keeping Up With the Bloggers

Well, bloggers, I've got some good news and some better news for you. The good news is that I have a list of great media blogs (intern-approved!) to check every chance you get. The better news is that I have a list of great blogs (not necessary pertaining to the media) that are bound to brighten your day (or at least make you smile in your cubicle).


For All You Media Moguls...
Nymag.com's Daily Intel: your daily dose of hard, breaking news with a dash of sarcasm and a pinch of irony.

The Daily Beast: its Cheat Sheet is all you need to have any sort of intelligent conversation with a) your parents, b) the guy on the subway, and c) your coworkers. One of my personal favorites is today's photo quiz - Guess the Stars' Shaved Heads. Inspired by Colbert.

Romenesko: facts-forward and serious. Warning: might induce a yawn or two.

Gawker: boasts articles that run the gamut, from Laura Ling/Euna Lee coverage to horrifying Father's Day gifts to hippie schools refusing kids financial aid.

Jezebel: your celeb/fashion fix. Loving some of the headers, like thinspiration and (un)fitness.


For All You Entertainment Junkies...
Nymag.com's Sex Diaries: every week, various bloggers ("hot young things" or "divorcees" or "the older women") document their sex lives. Some postings can get a little racy, but others are rather educational.

Overheard in New York: an oldie, but goodie. There's some quality one-liners from NYU students on the 1-train...

Texts from last night: clearly journalism at its finest.

This is why you're fat: but that deep-fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich just looks sooo good!

Postcards from yo momma: think FML meets 'yo momma' jokes.

That's so fetch: great recommendations for new songs, movies, etc. And I hope you didn't miss the URL's reference to Mean Girls (her dad created Toaster Strudel).

What Claudia wore: don't lie, you obviously remember Claudia from The Babysitter's Club. Well, she's the inspiration for this fashionista blog. It keeps you posted on all levels of fashion icons - Chuck Bass' obsession with purple on Gossip Girl to the new Jackie O, Michelle Obama.

Awkward Family Photos: need I say more? We know and love them.


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Those should keep you busy for the remainder of the week (or at least until the Ed Intern Party tonight)! I'm off to blog about fall beauty tips. Stay tuned, and good luck to all the Ed Trust Fund applicants!

xoxo,
cyber intern

Decoding Mag Speak...

Morning Edsters!

It's that magical day of the week- Wednesday!! It's the halfway point, and tonight also happens to be the Ed's Intern party from 6:30-9:30, which gives me even more of a reason to celebrate! I plan on finishing all my work and moving my money knowledgeable butt up there (as it's on 79th) as quickly as possible. Hopefully I'll see you there, although we won't know we met ;). Oh how very Gossip Girl (Yes I'm an adult and Yes I absolutely adore the show, how could I not, it incorporates so many things I love, with anonymity being high on that list!!)

Anyway I have some amazing news! Yesterday as I was looking at the magazine publishing deadline sheet I received from the editorial meeting, I realized I had no idea what the phrase "TK" stood for. Having interned for the past 10 months I knew it meant to be determined or to be added, but I didn't know what the letters actually meant. I asked a fellow intern and she was kind enough to show me this amazing article on MediaBistro. It details all the mag-terms (misspelled and all!) and defines them for interns and those new to the biz. This is DEFINITELY something to look into so that you can impress your boss with your next mag-language friendly email. Just remember to get the misspellings correct!

Enjoy the day and don't forget about the Intern party tonight!

Ciao!

Soup du Jour

Hey, everyone! Sorry that I’m (again) late in getting my post on the web, but I’ve had two very busy days in a row here at the office.

 

This morning I was a tad bit late (I got lost on the subway somewhere under Times Square) and I silently freaked out the closer and closer I got to the office. Luckily, a lot of people were just getting in when I got there, so it wasn’t too big a deal. After meeting the staff members who weren’t in yesterday, I went straight to work on a story that I have due early next week. I’m really loving all of the writing that I’m getting to do, but I still have plenty of other menial stuff that I have to do (getting people coffee, changing the toner in the printer, etc.)

 

Last night was pretty fun. I had dinner with a friend who’s working at another magazine in my building. We went to ‘Wichcraft and had the weirdest combination of fruit, meat and bread that has ever passed across my lips. Still, it was one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a while. Thank you, Chef Colicchio.

 

Just a tip: Try new things! There was a really weird soup at a place I went to for lunch today, but I ordered it anyway, and it turned out to be damn good soup. ‘Wichcraft has plenty of locations in the city. Find one that’s near you today, and order a grilled cheese, ham and pear sandwich!

 

Have a good night, interns. More tomorrow!

 

- Trade Intern 

Intern on the Prowl

So I forgot to mention in yesterday’s post: I had an awesome experience on Friday! I got to attend a press event featuring a famous fashion designer whose work is sold at high-end retail shops like Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. I got to sit in the press area with the “reserved” seats and everything, and even asked him a question about aspiring fashionistas.

Yesterday after work, I met some friends in the East Village, which is one of my favorite parts of the city. I scoped out some great restaurants for the intern on the prowl for a cheap and yummy bite. Amy’s Bread is tried and true; their melt-in-your-mouth scones (oatmeal with nuts and fruit, or cherry cream) are a must-try. It’s a great venue to go on a lunch break (or even stop by for breakfast, if you have time before work) to grab some alone time with a latte and the newspaper or your favorite mag. The workday will seem so much longer if you stay at your desk all day – try getting out of the office for a stroll, even if it’s just for 15 or 20 minutes. The fresh air will do wonders, and you’ll come back to work totally refreshed. (Well, maybe not today, seeing as it’s a torrential downpour.)

If you’re looking for a fun, chic place to hit with friends, try Dos Caminos – their margaritas and fresh guacamole are out of this world. For those of you with a sweet tooth (that’s definitely me), try Grom at Bleecker and Carmine. You can’t go wrong with any of the eccentric ice cream flavors (my fave is tiramisu), and summertime just begs for a delish cone of fro-yo.

Those are my foodie recommendations for the day. I’m blogging my fingers off here at work, so I have to keep this short. Can’t wait til the Ed Intern Party tomorrow night! If you need directions, just Hop-Stop it.

xoxo,
cyber intern

Rainy Day in Manhattan-town,

Cheesy I know, but it's true!!

Unfortunately I changed from my flip-flops to my stilettos mid-commute and now my beautiful (new) red shoes have wet streaks...hopefully they dry...otherwise I'm just going to have to get a new pair at some point, or designate them as my rainy day shoes...

Anyway, back to Internships. Yesterday wasn't that eventful here in money land. I did a little stock work, but took Fashion Intern's advice to heart and used all of her successful occupying time tips. I found three Starbucks within 10 minutes of my office, and read the NYTimes business section, and metro section online. I discovered a new addition to Times Square---lawn chairs! Of course I knew all about the traffic changes (having driven around the city this weekend which is something I only suggest to native or at least resident New Yorkers as it can be quite hectic!) but I didn't know about this cool new addition. I tend to avoid Times Square like the plague, but this gives me a new place to occupy that hour worth of lunch I am given. Check it out here.

Of course today might not be the best day for that, so I have another rainy day lunch location, or actually I have two of them. First there's the concourse underneath Rockefeller Center. It can be reached via the entrance on 6th avenue but also via the elevator on 51st. It's underneath what will be (at christmas time) the ice skating rink. I don't think they keep the rink open all year, but as I haven't passed it in a while, I can't tell you for sure! This area is virtually a treasure trove of resturants, shops and leads one to madison avenue which leads to St. Patricks Cathedral, Saks, and some other stores depending which way you walk. It's fun, and definitely gives you something to do for the hour. Columbus Circle (59th Street Station on the Red 1 train) is also a cool place to window shop, and sit for a few minutes with a book, magazine, newspaper or Kindle- depending on your preference. There's also a Whole Foods Market here, which will save you money on lunch- you can purchase premade sandwiches, salads etc. I believe there is also some sort of Au Bon Pain/Panera- ish place around the "mall" as well.

Enjoy splashing in puddles, or finding great places to keep dry on this rainy day!!

More tomorrow...

New Week, New Job

Hey, interns!

I'm under the gun here at work, but I promise I will update everyone on my first day just as soon as I can.

Hope your weeks have gotten off to a great start!

- Trade Intern

The Promised Update

Sorry, everyone! I'm finally back at home (several hours later) and I have so much to dish about my first day at work.

I got to my building relatively early, and after a short spiel from a very nice guy in Human Resources, I went to meet my supervisor. She's really patient and warm and didn't flinch when I asked her questions that turned out to be really obvious and simple. She helped me get set up in my cubicle (which I don't have to share!), then walked me around all of our departments and introduced me to a lot of people on staff. There are soooo many names to remember, so that will be my number one mission this week.

After we came back from the extensive fashion closet (yay!), I handled a few administrative tasks and then my supervisor and another editor took me to lunch. They gave me some great tips about cool and cheap places to go, how to use the temperamental coffee machine in the kitchen, and how to interact with the people on staff.

My afternoon was a whirlwind of calls and emails and confusion, but in the end, I couldn't have asked for a better day. I'm staring down the barrel of a long gun loaded with stuff to do in the morning, but quite frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Just a tip: When you meet a new person for the first time (especially if it's someone who can assign stuff for you to do), repeat their name when you shake their hand and look them directly in the eye. It's a simple action that will help you put their face to their name.

Have a good night, interns! More tomorrow

- Trade Intern

Monday, Fun day!

This blog's title is only so chipper because I'm running on approx 3 cups of dark-roast coffee. Needless to say, I'm not a morning person, much less a Monday person.

Anyway, back to business. Everyone wants to make their work stand out; everyone wants to be a shining star. While there’s no surefire formula to becoming the next New York Times bestselling novelist, here are a few tips on the best ways to help yourself:

1) Write – which is easier said than done. Type, scribble, whatever. Once you get a sense of the type of articles your magazine runs, constantly be on the lookout for features or bits of info that could possibly be angled to turn into a great article idea. Try pitching some of your findings to your editor; it might turn into a brainstorming sesh, and who knows, you could end up with a great clip!

2) Keep up with your reading. Talking about what’s on your nightstand is always a great conversation starter amongst journalists. For suggestions, take a gander at Oprah’s Book Club reads, the NY Times bestseller list, or Booklist Magazine. Also, be sure to take risks with your reading; don’t just stick to your fave genre. If you’re a fantasy fanatic, try a suspenseful mystery. Writing flows best when it’s about what you know. The more you read, the more you know.

3) Socialize with your work. Post your articles or blogs to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn… you know, the works. Don’t be afraid of criticism – others’ comments can be the highest form of praise. It means people think your writing is worthwhile because they’re actually taking the time to read it. Plus, how else is the world going to find out how great you are if you don’t toot your own horn a bit?

4) Travel. How literally you want to take this advice is up to you – whether it’s exploring your neighborhood in the East Village or jetting to Tahiti. Just do whatever you can to broaden your base of experience. It’ll also give you something refreshing to talk about on future job or internship interviews (not just the same-old, same-old that editors hear every day: how you've always wanted to be a writer, etc).

5) Don’t feel awkward about asking staffers out to lunch or coffee. It will give you a great opportunity to personalize your relationship and chat about things outside of work (and no doubt they’ll appreciate the invitation to get out of the office for a bit). At the end of the summer, you might even want to mention something to your editor about working there again over winter break. I did that last year, and even though it was unpaid, I refreshed my connections there and it was a great way to secure an “in.” Those “ins” increase your odds of finding a post-grad job!

6) Update your resume any chance you get (obviously putting the most relevant experiences first). Along those same lines, it’s a good idea to keep a journal of the work you’re completing at your internship, even if it’s just as mundane as making an inventory of the beauty closet. After the summer’s over, chances are you won’t remember every little task you completed, and a comprehensive listing can help tailor your resume.

That’s all for today, folks. As for my read of the week: Revolutionary Road (yes, it was recently produced into a major motion picture with Kate Winslet and Leo, but I refuse to see the movie before the book). It’s a little somber for a beach read, but totally worth it.

Have a great week! xoxo,

cyber intern