Riverfront Times

Photography Intern

January 2023 • St. Louis, MO

What I liked

I liked the diversity in what stories I was able to cover. I think what kept my role entertaining was the differences between shoots and how I was able to round myself with different story topics such as culture, food, and events. I am thankful for the helpful staff and how easily communication was between everyone.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have been more involved with the staff in person. I worked remotely when I could and did not utilize the office like I have imagined I would. Although this did not affect my performance, it would have been nice to push myself to socialize within the staff.

Advice

I think it's important to have fun with what you are doing. This is valuable to me because my experience of an event is represented in the pictures I take and how it is documented. It's easy to overthink the process in the field, but going in with a plan and friendly approach brought out the best results during parades and events that I was able to cover.

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Intern

January - May 2022 • Saint Louis, MO

What I liked

I enjoyed getting to work with all of the wonderful editors at the Riverfront Times. I also was able to improve upon my photography and writing skills, while also discovering that I enjoy writing for the food section.

What I wish was different

I do wish that I could have been in person from the start, but that was difficult because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I do understand and appreciate the Riverfront Times' dedication to staff safety.

Advice

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Photography Intern

June - July 2021 • St. Louis, MO

What I liked

Amazing work environment that is welcoming, understanding, challenging, and fun. All people I have interacted with while at RFT have been amazing, helping me every step of the way when I needed it and had amazing advice. They really care about your learning experience as well as you as a person, which helped me feel more professionally confident and appreciated. I felt like I had the space and ability to grow, and it was encouraged, and I definitely did.

What I wish was different

Nothing. I wish I personally had more time to give to RFT if I was not also working and taking classes at the same time, because I loved every second of it.

Advice

Give this experience your all, and trust that your supervisors are there to help and lean on them for help when you need. If you have to say no to any assignment for whatever reason, it is not the end of the world - there will be more. Use this experience to grow and learn your passions.

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photographer i

August - December 2021 • St. Louis, MO

What I liked

I love working with the RFT team, They are so helpful, friendly, willing to help each other.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Cultures Editor Intern

June - August 2021 • St. Louis, MO

What I liked

The editors and writers I dealt with were all easy to talk to, extremely helpful in any situation, and encouraging during the writing process of every piece I wrote. I didn't feel like an intern at all. The event reviews I wrote my first week were in the paper the next. I assumed my work would only be uploaded to the website, but I have had something in print every single week since I started. None of my pitches were ever shot down, and the one about a subject dear to my heart, record stores, ended up getting promoted to a longer feature piece that ended up on the cover that week. It has been an incredible experience.

What I wish was different

While I liked being able to work from home, it would have been nice to attend a meeting or two in the offices so I could meet everyone in person. But I can't complain because I like being able to work in a space I'm comfortable in and to write at any hour of the day, and I'm glad the RFT is a magazine where they take the pandemic seriously enough to not have us come in. Overall, it went well the way it all did.

Advice

I would be ready to come in to pitch some story ideas when you start. It doesn't have to be a fully formed idea, but it's good to have something to start with, and they can help you work through it. Think about St. Louis places or issues you might think a reader would find interesting, depending on what section you're working on. Also, be prepared to right from the getgo.

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