Q: I've written to you a couple times, mostly because I have a lot of questions about the industry. It's also interesting to read real answers from a recruiter and not some career advisor who seems to be guessing. So, keep up the good work.
I've been doing a little research for internships next summer -- finding out what papers are the best -- and I've come across a couple international programs through my university. It sounds like they will set me up to work for a newspaper in either Sydney or England, pending acceptance. Do you think international is better, or more attractive, than national? I'm kind of stuck on this one.
Thanks again for the advice,
Keegan
A: Good question.
International internships can certainly help you learn and grow and that is a primary goal of an internship. Familiarity with how things are done in other parts of the world is become more important with globalization, but I don't know that most editors are seeing how it can be applied by our staffers. That is a shortcoming on our part.
U.S. editors seem to look more favorably on internships at newspapers that are most similar to their own. As a prime reason for getting an internship is to get a job, this then gives you a dilemma.
If you go for an international internship for the experience, U.S. editors will be more interested in your work if it is in English and if the style and standards are more similar to those in the States.
Best, of course, if you have time, is to do both kinds of internships, or to work in the U.S. but spend a semester or two overseas.
