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417 Intern Program

Whitaker Publishing is a “Life Improvement” company. The 417Intern Program embodies this ideal by providing valuable, practical work experience to students and young professionals interested in entering the fields of sales, marketing, public relations, graphic design, and journalism.

Interns with the 417Intern Program will develop their skills through hands-on learning that focuses on leadership development and fine tuning time management skills.

Although interns are assigned to work in specific practice groups, they are exposed to many facets of Whitaker Publishing. Practice groups are:

• Editorial (Writing) • Editorial (Art) • Graphic Design
• Marketing/Public Relations • Digital Platforms

Requirements

Applicants must have at least a B average and be enrolled in their junior or senior year of undergraduate study; however, exceptions may be permitted based on experience, portfolio content, or other qualification deemed significant by the hiring manager in each practice group.

Sessions

Fall: August – December 2009 (Application Deadline: June 15, 2009)
Winter: January – May 2010 (Application Deadline: November 15, 2009)
Summer: May – August 2010 (Application Deadline: March 15, 2010)

Application Process

Please refer to the specific requirements for each Practice Group. Different portfolio requirements may be required. However, all prospective interns should submit a cover letter, resume, and a letter of recommendation and to:

Intern Coordinator
Whitaker Publishing
2111 S. Eastgate
Springfield, MO 65809

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 Job Descriptions

Editorial Interns –

Regular responsibilities include:
• Reporting and writing a variety of Front of Book assignments, such as event previews and Leisure Time, Parent Planner, Efforts and Branson Update stories.
• Submitting story ideas.
• Reporting and writing the monthly Top 10 and Health Calendar lists.
• Attending and helping prepare for editorial planning and art planning meetings when it fits the schedule.
• Occasionally helping shoot People Pics photos.

Interns who demonstrate exceptional skills could acquire these responsibilities:
• Writing longer pieces, such as feature-length profiles and Home stories.
• Attending and helping with photo shoots
• Working on or helping report cover stories and features
• Practice editing copy
• Seeing your suggested projects through to completion, rather than just working on small assigned stories.

What Editorial Writing Practice Group Interns will learn:
Editorial Writing Practice Group internships are teaching internships. We want to teach, and we expect our intern to want to learn. We take pride in our working relationship with our interns, who we view as a vital part of the staff. Our interns don’t make Starbucks runs for the staff, and they don’t solely compile calendar entries. They attend art meetings when the schedule permits. The write profiles. They conduct important reporting. The suggest story ideas. They attend magazine events. Although they will be asked to do some month-to-month tasks, such as 417 Top 10, they will also be given challenging writing and reporting tasks that allow them to stretch. All we ask is that they prove themselves to be responsible and capable; we’ll give them opportunities that fit their abilities.

Editorial Art Interns –

Regular responsibilities include:
• Assisting art director in design and layout of all publications.
• Scheduling and attending photo shoots
• Collecting necessary art required for projects
• Color correcting photos

Necessary skills:
Design interns must have illustration skills including experience in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. Fashion Interns must have a book that displays good personal style.

What Editorial Art Practice Group interns will learn:
Interns in the Editorial Art Practice Group will learn organizational and time management skills, as they will work on strict inter-office deadlines. They will schedule and attend photo shoots for magazine layouts. They will learn to finely tune and further develop their own personal style and to weave their own creativity into the parameters of the style defined by Whitaker Publishing’s art department.

Marketing/Public Relations Interns -

Regular Responsibilities Include:
•Event coordination and execution.
•Assisting Whitaker Publishing Marketing Department with online marketing efforts for all magazines.
•Updating online calendar regularly.
•Administering contests and giveaways through springfieldgo.com and 417mag.com.
•Manage Marketvolt database by uploading and updating newly acquired and existing email addresses.

Necessary Skills:
Exceptional communications skills are a must.
Basic working knowledge of PR writing practices preferred.
Creative, out-of-the-box thinker who can work independently.

What Marketing/Public Relations Interns will learn:
Marketing/Public Relations Interns will learn the basics in event planning, client relations, public relations and media relations during their time at Whitaker Publishing. No two days are the same, so Marketing/Public Relations Interns will learn to hone their time management skills, prioritize ever-changing responsibilities, and they will gain a working knowledge of the importance of timely, professional client interaction.

Graphic Design Interns –

Regular responsibilities include:
• Assisting production department in the organization of servers.
• Develop design concepts for advertisements, special advertising sections, and sales materials.
• Collect necessary client art work required for completion of advertisements.

Necessary Skills:
Adobe InDesign is required. Excellent Adobe PhotoShop skills required. Illustrator skills preferred but not necessary. Highly organized with multi-tasking skills. MUST be a quick learner with all design platforms and MUST be deadline focused.

What Graphic Design Practice Group interns will learn:
Graphic Design Practice Group interns will learn time management skills and learn to operate on strict inter-office deadlines. Interns will learn to apply their design and creative skills in the development of paid advertising, in-house promotional advertising and event marketing.

Digital Platforms Interns –

Regular Responsibilities include:
• Assist digital team in the uploading of data, articles, photos, calendars and other necessary information to Whitaker Publishing websites.
• Monitor websites daily for trouble area or areas with obsolete information.
• Troubleshoot inter-office technical issues with email, computer software, etc.

Necessary Skills:
Basic computer skills.
Basic HTML or higher (php, javascript, AJAX)
CSS
Microsoft Office skills necessary.

What Digital Platforms Interns will learn:
Interns in the Digital Platforms Practice Group will learn how to use a live CMS, template and module-based web design, techniques in SEO, advanced HTML and other languages, and the basics of web-based advertising. Interns will learn how to apply what they know in all of the above areas to the daily function of a business.