MDDC Members and Students Find Benefits in Summer Internships

April Smith, a student at the University of Delaware and intern at the Newark Post, was featured in a recent column by Newark Post Publisher Jim Streit, in which he discusses the importance of experience in getting a job in journalism.

"In 2002, to get a paying job in the reporting business, you have to have first been published," said Streit. "But you can’t really accumulate any ‘clips’ until you have a job."

Smith became interested in journalism after taking a news writing and editing course at the University of Delaware. This past year, she was a city news editor and led the student paper’s coverage of Newark government, its arts community, and local organizations.

Smith hoped to get a lot of writing experience during her eight weeks with the Newark Post.

"She’s getting it," said Streit.

Other newspapers with MDDC interns this summer are The Capital, The Herald-Mail, Columbia Flier, Carroll County Times, The Aegis, Ocean City Today and the Montgomery Gazette.

Students participating attend the University of Maryland College Park, Columbia Union College, Mount St. Mary’s College, Towson University, Salisbury University and the University of Delaware.

The MDDC Press Association provides each intern with a stipend of $2,400 for the eight-week program. The member newspapers to which they are assigned are responsible for any income tax liability the student incurs, plus normal business expenses.

In the past four summers, 17 newspapers in three jurisdictions have participated in the program.

Notices will be sent to all area colleges in September to encourage participation in the 2003 internship program. Any interested member newspapers are also invited to sign up to participate at that time.