Summer interns breathe new life into newsroom
Published 7:00 pm Thursday, August 7, 2014
My favorite thing about this line of work is that you can learn something knew every day.
Since my first unpaid internship began in the summer of 2009, I can honestly say I have learned something every day on the job.
I hope that sentiment still holds true for Scottie Brown and Christopher Edmunds, two recent college graduates who served as interns this summer at the Times-Journal.
Scottie, from Auburn University, and Christopher, from the University of Alabama, walked into the newsroom ready for whatever the world through at them.
And while the world did not disappoint them, they certainly did not disappoint us.
After his internship ended a few weeks ago, Christopher returned to Tuscaloosa where he will work for the Crimson-White.
Since my journalistic background is in photography, there was much I, and probably a few staff members, was able to learn from Christopher about grammar and storytelling.
After her internship ended in Selma last week, Scottie picked up her diploma from Auburn and has worked her first days as a reporter at the Troy Messenger.
From day one, Scottie had expressed an interest in learning the in’s and out’s of digital photography.
While she taught me the value of a well-timed snack break and other essential life skills, she was able to greatly improve on her photography talents.
Both of them will be missed, and both will be missed for more reasons than fact they helped write stories to fill the pages of the Times-Journal.
It is always a breath of fresh air for me to see this work, and this city, through new eyes.
On their first days in town, everything here was new, and there is really no other way to live.
That is a trait I hope they never lose, and one I hope I can always keep.
This might make me sound like the old guy on his porch, talking about the good old days, but it’s important to always learn.
A day without learning is as close to a wasted day as one can get.
I’ve made a point to learn every day, whether I learn something about this line of work, myself, or the world around me.
I’m glad I was able to do that during the duration of the interns’ time in Selma, and I hope they did the same. I have no doubt Scottie and Christopher will be working in this field for a long, long time.
They have all the skills needed to succeed. It was great to watch them succeed in Selma, and it was also great for me to learn from them during their time here.