Does Alexandra Jacobs Need an Overqualified Intern?

We were tipped off to this Craigslist ad by anonymous: I wonder who this is--Alexandra Jacobs lives in Silverlake. Can we assume that the 'la magazine' is Jossip? Here's the ad: intern (edit/research) for la magazine writer (silver lake) Reply to: job-762026435@craigslist.org Date: 2008-07-19, 8:26PM PDT Intern (editorial/research) available with national magazine writer/author who holds contributing editorships and contract masthead positions. Please don't apply if you're not available to start in August, and please live in Los Angeles, own a laptop with access to broadband Internet, and have a means of transportation. Applicants will likely be in an MFA program or at the end of their undergrad programs. Please sustain interest in: technology/gadgets, travel, food, culture (from mainstream film/TV to books, serious music to one-hit wonders), health (including recent medical news), style, nutrition, design, literary nonfiction, and essay/memoir. Tasks will introduce you to traditional magazine and newspaper research methods, fact-checking, copy-editing, writing in different tones, different journalistic forms, the writer's marketplace, how to pitch, editor communiques, putting together book proposals, transcribing, interviewing prominent newsmakers (from the famous to obscure), etc. The rest of the ad is after the jump but we'll save you the suspense - there's no pay. And for the record - we need an intern/slave too. Preferably one that can cook and make furniture. UPDATE: It's not Jacobs. She lives somewhere other than Silver Lake. Oh well...we still need an intern that can fact check and hang dry wall. There will also be light clerical assistance--occasionally calling in products, meeting PR reps, placing calls and e-mails, sending out packages. But this is more substantive writing/journalism mentorship and exposure than personal assistance. Having had great mentors, I'm devoted to helping the right person get started on what can be a very liberating, challenging, and exciting career path. What else? Familiarity with Nexis and other popular research tools helps. Also know how to work with and have a good sense of the Web--particularly the most important media and entertainment blogs. Please read lots of newspapers and magazines and have favorites for which you would like to write. Successful applicant will receive personalized advice on how to kickstart a freelance writing career tailored to specific interests as well as journalism-school and MFA-curriculum reading suggestions, skill-building writing/editing assignments (if desired), and personal writing analyses (to help you get published sooner rather than later). Other perks: I offer help with creating work portfolios (what clips to send, cover letters, etc.) and with meeting helpful people--sources and editors. I combine a taste of MFA nonfiction writing as well as journalism school with the real facts about freelance writing as a business. So you'll get a lot out of this if you're available, including a strong reference and bylined writing samples. The most important thing is to be extremely passionate about writing for publication asap. It works best if you're 100% sure you want to work in this field right away. Please also be the type who takes initiative and works well independently. Being professional, articulate, and accurate as well as flexible with time zones--particularly Eastern Standard Time--will be a big help. Deadlines are fast in this world, and most editors are NY-based. 75% of work can be done from home, eventually, but twice-weekly meetings of a few hours are very likely and often helpful for both of us. Unpaid or college credit available through all universities. Potential for small payments--for helpful contributions with research assistance or transcription. What you'll gain in experience, connections, and exposure, however, is well worth your time -- much more than answering phones, getting coffee, and faxing contracts at a magazine. Just please don't apply if you already have a taxing full-time job. That's obviously understandable; it's just not ideal for this situation. No one understands the need to make money more than a writer in my position. But this job just fits students and others who have time to spare, however they finance it. Prefer younger people as opposed to career-changers. Also, please read literary as well as consumer publications and books -- and understand the need to write for both worlds in this economy. Let's chat over e-mail and phone so the right ones come to interview. Interns usually stay from three to six months--I like to usher you out of this and into other work as soon as you're ready. Lastly, it would help if you have worked on writing for a publication before, and if you have practical journalistic or essayistic writing samples to send along with a resume and cover letter that explains why you are ready to pursue this career. Don't feel the need to stand out with unusual cover letters but please also don't worry about formalities. Just write a proper letter: say hello, tell me your name, and why you'd like to do this. Past interns have scored numerous paid articles in national publications as well as found and retained work at strong magazines. * Location: silver lake * Compensation: unpaid or college credit. potential for small payments if you show talent for transcription or research. * Telecommuting is ok. * This is a part-time job. * This is an internship job * Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster. * Please, no phone calls about this job! * Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

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Does Alexandra Jacobs Need an Overqualified Intern?

Tina Dupuy

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