Editorial Internship (remote)At — Orange Coast Magazine

Unpaid: Academic Credit Required

Orange Coast magazine's unpaid editorial internship program, overseen by Senior Editor Astgik Khatchatryan, is comprehensive, providing college students instruction in fact-checking, magazine writing, and critical thinking. The program provides work experience, reflects well on resumés and graduate school applications, and gives students with an up-close look at how a fantastic editorial department functions. Internships are limited to applicants enrolled in an accredited college who may receive classroom credit for their work at Orange Coast. 

This is a remote/virtual internship. Interns should be prepared to commit 10 to 12 hours a week for at least 12 weeks or the length of a quarter/semester. Interns should not simultaneously maintain positions at any of Orange Coast’s competition publications.

As part of the application process, students are asked to submit thumbnail pitches of three specific interview possibilities that would be appropriate for the magazine’s People & Places section—these regular features are found in the front of the book and are fun, quick peeks into life in Orange County. For example, in one issue, we interviewed Local Natives singer Ryan Hahn, in another issue we highlighted Instagram star Joey Marie Choi, and, in yet another, we profiled whale-watch pilot Dave Anderson. The pages we’d like to see pitches for are Person of Interest, Trade Secrets, Quotes, Stats, or O.C.’s Own.

If a student is invited to an interview with Astgik, he or she should be prepared to discuss these ideas based on preliminary research, in the event that any of the three suggestions prove suitable for publication.

Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, three thumbnail ideas for People & Places stories, and at least one writing sample to akhatchatryan@orangecoast.com.

Tasks:

By the end of the internship, each student must complete one or more articles that will be published online or in print. Specific tasks include fact-checking, research, writing, attending online meetings.

Training:

Students will be instructed in fact checking articles, pitching and researching stories, and working with an editor to revise their stories. They will also be invited to online editorial planning meetings and may interview editors and other magazine staff about their roles.

Learning Outcomes:

Students should complete the internship with improved writing, researching, and critical thinking skills. They will have first-hand knowledge of what it takes to put together a high-profile magazine, and the ability to judge what makes a piece of journalism print-ready. Students will learn how a monthly magazine is put together from the editorial side, from creating stories to seeing the final product.