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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To satisfy your craving...

So another summer (if you can call it that) week has come and passed us by! It's rainy and chilly outside -- my umbrella broke! -- so it feels more like the beginning of spring than the first week in June.

On a tangent to the magazine industry, I wanted to a blog a bit about getting through the workday in terms of food. Sitting at your desk all day can make a girl stir-crazy, and you might be tempted to take a walk on over to the vending machine every hour or so. And before you know it, you've gone through a day's worth of calories before... 3 p.m.

A great tip I've learned from Hungry Girl (a great Web site that gives some good advice about eating yummy and healthy) is to eat something every 3 or 4 hours. So if you have a little breakfast on the way into work at 8:30, try not to munch until lunchtime around 12 (unless you want some fruit or dry cereal as a mid-morning stack). Instead, chew some gum or pop in a mint (I'm partial to the peppermint lifesavers). Don't go the whole afternoon without eating; by the time you get home from work after 5, you'll be ravenous and want to eat anything that's not tied down. Instead, bring some snacks for your work desk -- a granola bar, nuts & raisins mixture, 100 calorie packs, or an apple, just to name a few. This way, you're keeping your body well-nourished and saving money (all those dollars here and there on food from the office, whether from the cafe nearby or the vending machine, quickly add up!). A big glass of water or a cup of coffee can also take the edge off if you're bored at your desk and feel the munchies starting in.

Anywho, have a fabulous weekend, and I'll talk to ya Monday!


xoxo,
cyber intern

Thirsty Thursday...and other musings

Hey, Edsters! TGI(almost)F. I don’t know about you guys, but I definitely need the weekend!

As an afternoon pick-me-up, I suggest watching Joe Jonas perform Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” dance (just don’t get caught by your boss). The JoBros will do anything to sell more albums. I always thought Joe was the gay one, and this just confirms it.

This summer, a bunch of my friends and colleagues have more than one internship, which has made me feel like an under-achiever. Since my current internship runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. five days a week, I’m not really left with any time for another one, though. So I’ve discovered a way to still beef up my resume by taking on multiple tasks this summer: freelancing. Some are paid, and some are not – but either way, it’s something you can do on your own time, usually isn’t too trying or consuming, and produces great clips. I recently secured a summer freelancing position that only requires 10 hours per week (and a 250-word opinion piece counts as an hour!). The Ed site has a ton of awesome freelancing opportunities under WhisperJobs, but there’s other resources as well: College Candy, College Magazine 101, and Demand Studios, just to name a few. And it’s definitely not too late to apply; Web sites in particular are always looking for more contributors. The fact you have an internship to boot simply makes you a more attractive applicant for freelancing positions.

Another tip that I picked up at work yesterday was to create a Tumblr account. Whether you’re blogging, creating slideshows, or ghost writing this summer, it’s no doubt that you’ll end up with a decent amount of work to show for it. It’s easy to lose track of the odds-and-ends jobs you’ve completed, and it’s even easier to let the mumbo-jumbo of random clips get disorganized. This can make it frustrating when you want to submit your clips, blogs, etc. to future employers (or even just to your relatives to show off your rockin’ work). By going to tumblr.com, you can create a blog-like page and post links to your work. This keeps them neat and easy to reference. You can customize the background choices, too – I particularly love the “tumbledesk” theme.

Looking ahead to the weekend, it’s my personal opinion that Sundays are underrated. Don’t get me wrong – I love partying away my Friday and Saturday nights – but there’s something so therapeutic about relaxing on a Sunday morning with a steaming mug of coffee and my New York Times Magazine. Sunday nights can be rough; nobody likes the idea of returning to work on Monday. So perk them up by going to Film Screenings at the Tribeca Grand Hotel at 6:30 p.m. on Sundays. The nearby Church Lounge offers a Sunday evening prix-fixe meal of soup, salad, choice of entrèe, and choice of dessert for $30 per person, perfect for a classic dinner and a movie date night. Maybe I’ll even see you there!

xoxo,
Cyber Intern

Happy Hump Day!

Even after just two days of work, I’ve noticed that several of my living habits have changed. Instead of staying up until 2 a.m. watching reruns of That 70s Show, I’m hitting the sack by 10 p.m. And instead of just my morning cup o’ joe, I’ve been using the coffee machine at work 3 (or 4...) times a day. Oy.

So, let’s see. I have a quick word about Metrocards. While getting the unlimited card might seem like the best choice, I queried one of the women working at the subway station about what's the most lucrative choice. Say you get the unlimited 30-day card for $80. The clock is ticking, so if you miss a day of work or decide not to take the subway one day, you’re losing money. Instead, if you just put $80 on your card, you receive a $12 bonus, and you can use it on a case-by-case basis. Just my opinion. But whichever type of Metrocard you choose, here’s a word to the wise: keep it in a separate pouch or change purse, along with any other cards you need for your internship (train tickets, ID swipe-ins, etc). Until yesterday, I’d been keeping my Metrocard in my wallet, which was always a pain to take out and put back. So after I hopped off the subway at Penn Station yesterday, I threw it into my bag with my Blackberry because I was in a hurry. Needless to say, my card was nowhere to be found when I scoured my bag later at home. The worst part is that it had a ton of money still on it!

Today, we had our first intern school lunch. For the most part, we learned about making a strong connection with the reader. This is something that I’ve been struggling with as I’m writing blogs for the Web site; I’m more of a news junkie. I’m accustomed to writing about politics or long-form profiles or news for college-aged students. (I subscribe to CNN breaking news alerts via text and email. My friends mock me for it.) But I’ve learned that in the magazine industry, you need to be able to write for all different audiences and do whatever is thrown at you... especially in this economy. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. So don’t fret if you’re in the same position!

In the meantime, to keep up with the media industry gossip, if you’re not subscribed already, get the daily emails from MediaBistro and MPA Magazine News. You can also follow @mediabistro on Twitter (I check it hourly at work). That's all for now - got a busy afternoon ahead!


xoxo,
cyber intern

From the Intern Closet

Mission survive day one: accomplished! After adjusting my mascara and lipgloss for the fiftieth time, I decided I was ready to meet my new boss. As I stepped off the lightning-speed elevator, I was dazzled by the sleek, boldly colored furniture and the chic editors that I could hear miles away from their patent-leather pumps on the glass floors. My editor gave me the lay of the land: the bathrooms, coffee machine (it actually made a decent cup), copier, and freebie desk. Oh, and my workspace that I would share with the two other web interns, which was the size of a large walk-in closet. It had three computers just inches apart on one long countertop (two Macs, one PC – I, the Mac Girl, of course got assigned to the PC).

“Hope you like Thai food,” my editor chirped, and we left for lunch with rest of the Web staff. But instead of Thai, we went to a cute little American bistro. Upon our return, I got assigned some odds-and-ends jobs: making an inventory of model’s outfits, sending out freebie CDs, and blogging about how certain celebs’ looks have changed over the years. While I’m sure I’ll learn a ton this summer and it will be a great resume-booster – after all, Web is the future of journalism – it’s a very different experience than previous internship. Last summer, I worked for a parenting magazine where I was the only intern. But not gonna lie, I was pretty spoiled there – not only was I paid $12 per hour, but my editor regularly treated me to lunch, coffee, or Pinkberry. I had my own spacious cubicle, and I was given tons of big interviews and clips in the mag. But it’s good to have a wide range of experiences, since you never know where you’ll end up in the long run.

This past weekend, I decided I’d start babysitting again as a way to rake in a little moolah. I’ll be going abroad in the fall, so I need to make some kind of income this summer. I usually have a rule that I don’t babysit kids under the age of 3, simply because I can’t deal with the poopy diapers and gobblygook language (please don’t think I’m heartless). But I was asked to look after a 15-month old on Sunday, and it was for a friend-of-a-friend, so I grudgingly accepted. It didn’t turn out so hot: I couldn’t get the little tike out of the old, rusty highchair, and my own mother had to drive over to help me. She spit her applesauce onto my new shirt, and I sat with her for three hours watching Curious George before she dozed off. What an unpaid intern will do for a few extra bucks.

However, one good thing did come out of my babysitting experience. The mom knew someone who worked in the fashion department of the mag I’m interning for. A connection! I think I’ll send her an email today and hopefully meet up for lunch soon. It’s been pounded into our heads over and over: network, network, network. It’s not only what you know, it’s who you know.

On another note, I’m going to try to scope out some the NYC nightlife this week. I’ll report back with my findings. Check out this link to some hot spots here. Oh, and by the way – if there’s anything I’m not covering in this blog that you’d like to see, puh-lease leave me a comment to let me know!

xoxo,

cyber intern

Beauty, Big-shots, and Blogs

Hey Edsters! I’m the new summer intern at a popular magazine’s Web site. Today is my first day, so I’m not starting until the mid-afternoon. In the meantime, I’m sitting in a nearby Starbuck’s (there’s only one every 0.5 blocks), nervously sipping my skinny vanilla latte, wondering what to expect. Last summer, I interned for a parenting magazine, so I’m pretty sure this will be quite a different vibe.

I just got home from college several weeks ago, so I’m sort of still in transition mode. The switch from class to catwalk is going to be awesome, albeit interesting – instead of sitting through another yawn-inducing sociology lecture, I’ll be helping out at red carpet events (perhaps as the new Emily, ala The Devil Wears Prada), creating online quizzes, editing Web content, and blogging. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get a glimpse of some celebs!

Like many a journalism intern across America, I’m not getting paid one cent this summer. But I don’t get off that easy. Receiving college credit is required, so I’m doing it through my local community college because it’s way cheaper (the price tag on a credit from my home college is a whopping $900). Even though the credit from my community college won’t transfer, I’ll be saving about $500 – and that’s more money for lunch and shopping. Don’t get me wrong: I’ll still be scrimping and saving wherever possible – I’m a broke college student, after all – and I’ll chronicle all my findings in this blog. I optimistically call it “recession chic.”

In high school, I looked to the magazine that I’m interning for in hopes of gaining insight about my upcoming college career: dorm life essentials, how to deal with crazy roommates and clingy parents, you get the idea. Now, looking back as a rising college junior, I realize how much my views have changed. It’s actually fascinating to peruse the college section with the knowledge of a seasoned college student. Some of the stories about sororities or make me pause and think: is this what high-schoolers really think about college? Everyone has such varying experiences – depending on personality type, school, and environment – that no matter how well-prepared they think they are, they’re all in for culture shocks.

I’m commuting to work every day from home with the ‘rents in New Jersey – I’ll need a Venti with a double shot to get me through each train ride. But I’m a wannabe-New Yorker, so I definitely plan on spending some nights in the city with friends who are lucky enough to have nabbed apartments or NYU housing. Stay tuned till next time…can’t wait to see what this summer will bring!

xoxo,
the cyber intern


PS. Once a week, I’m going to share with you guys what’s on my bedside night-stand. I’m a reading junkie. To get the summer kicked off, I just checked out “Hot Mess: Summer in the City” by Julie Kraut. It’s about a young whippersnapper (she’d definitely be an Ed2010 member in reality) who traded in life in the suburbs for a fab internship in NYC. However, she learns the hard way that the glamorous life is harder than she thinks…