Lessons learned interning at the News Tribune

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to complete a 10-week reporting internship with the Jefferson City News Tribune, as a part of the Rural Missouri Newspaper Scholarship.

I must admit, I was a bit nervous to begin the internship this summer. As a junior majoring in Strategic Communications at the University of Missouri, my reporting experience was minimal and my newsroom experience was nonexistent. While I had plenty of experience writing, photographing and editing for my journalism classes, I had never applied these skills to a professional environment.

However, despite my lack of experience, the News Tribune made me feel welcome almost immediately. Throughout my short time there, I got to work with a wonderful staff of editors, reporters and photographers who were willing to help me at every step.

As a general assignment reporter, my responsibilities varied. I covered pretty much anything and everything thrown my way, from street fairs to pet grooming. One of my main tasks throughout the summer was to write for the News Tribune’s brand new Paws and Claws section, focusing on local pet stories. Through this, I got to talk to shelter staff, rescue owners, veterinarians, groomers and local pet owners. One of my favorite story assignments was writing about the local cat cafe, where I got to pet adorable cats while interviewing the owner, who later told me my story introduced new people to the cafe and got rescue cats adopted. Hearing that your work made an impact is an incredible feeling.

I also wrote for the paper’s Go MidMO section, which featured upcoming entertainment events across Jefferson City. Through this, I got to cover plays, concerts and festivals. I really enjoyed talking to people involved in the arts community in Jefferson City. It’s extremely fulfilling to highlight the passionate people that keep the community alive.

Of course, I got to report on local news as well. One of my favorite stories was writing about the annual MR340 race on the Missouri River. Being from a river town myself, I had heard about the race before and I was excited to cover it for the paper. While covering the event, I got to speak to racers and even got to watch as they paddled down the Missouri River in front of a cheering crowd.

Although I went to plenty of cool events, I think I am most grateful for the learning experience I received while at the News Tribune. When starting this internship, my AP style knowledge was less than ideal. While I knew the basics from my time at the journalism school, I had a lot of room to improve. Another issue I struggled with was ledes, one of the most important parts of the story, and one of the hardest for me to write. I could summarize the information, but I struggled to make it interesting or exciting for readers. However, after tons of feedback from my editors, I slowly started to get better.

My writing now is far from perfect, but I certainly improved greatly in the 10 weeks I spent at the News Tribune. I am thankful for all the time my editors spent helping me with my stories and improving my writing. I would not have accomplished anything without their patience and guidance.

While my time at the News Tribune and in Jefferson City was short, I feel like I was able to fully immerse myself in a wonderful community. I made it a goal to learn something new from every person I interacted with and I feel like I accomplished that goal. I will take a lot from this internship and hope to continue learning and growing as a reporter in the future. I am most grateful for the amazing reporters, editors and photographers I had the opportunity to learn from, and I am excited to apply the knowledge and skills I have gained to future endeavors.

Alyssa Fitzgerald is a strategic communications major in the Missouri School of Journalism. A Boonville High School graduate, she was a 2022 recipient of the Rural Missouri Newspaper Scholarship. Find more information about the scholarship online at www.mopress.com.