US Weekly and Time Recap

Lindsay Moore, VP of Communications for Ed at Indiana, recapped last week’s Us Weekly and Time meeting. 

For Ed’s third Skype Hype this semester we were lucky enough to speak with two writers for weekly magazines. They gave us an inside look on how to land an interview, impress editors and be a standout intern.

We spoke with Us Weekly beauty writer, Rose Walano, about the differences between web and print and how to excel in both. Walano has worked at Elle.com, Glamour.com and Teenvogue.com and basically every other dream publication you can think of.

Cover Letters:

1. Cover letters need to be tailored to the organization you’re applying for. Walano recommends being very familiar with the publication’s style and attitude so that you can mimic it in your cover letter.
2. She also recommended adding some of your own personality. Cover letters are your first impression with editors—so make it sound like you!
3. Absolutely no grammar or spelling mistakes! This sounds like a no brainer but submitting sloppy work puts you first on the chopping block.

Your work isn’t over once you land the internship. Walano gave us insider tips on what she did to stand out as an intern and what she notices about her own interns.

Embracing the Voice and Personality of a Magazine

Kennedy Coopwood, contributing writer for Ed at Indiana, gives you tips for how to find the voice and personality of a magazine. 

With so many magazines out there in the world, how do you fit right with just one? What can you do to set you in good standings with that particular magazine and brand? How will you stand out among others who have the same drive and who may even write or edit better than you do? The answer: Target your writing to a specific magazine.                                                                                                  Your cover letters, your sample writings for the magazine, even the way you present yourself should reflect that you are perfect for the job. Embrace the magazine as yours. Here’s how you can do that…

• Do your research.

Find out what the magazine stands for. Figure out why the magazine was created and why people read it. The voice of the magazine is what keeps people reading. Study the style. Look at how articles are developed and printed. Sit down, take some time out of your day, and read.

Q+A with Assistant to EIC at Seventeen Magazine

Ali Benveniste, VP of Ed Indiana, interviewed the assistant to  the  editor-in-chief at Seventeen Magazine. 

Meaghan O’Connor

What inspired you to apply for the job at Seventeen?

First of all, I grew up with Seventeen! I felt like I knew the brand inside and out, and have wanted to intern/work here for as long as I could remember. Secondly, I have a ton of respect for my current boss—Editor-in-Chief, Ann Shoket—so when this opportunity came along, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. It was a combination of me knowing how FUN, CHALLENGING, and FAST-PACE the job would be! It just seemed like the perfect fit!

What does a typical day on the job look like for you?

That’s a tough question to answer, because no day is ever the same! I have multiple responsibilities, and I’m constantly rotating between all of them — it’s definitely a balancing act! First and foremost, I’m the Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief, Ann Shoket. That means keeping her organized, prepping for meetings, scheduling meetings, and keeping her on track and on schedule every day. If she gets behind, everyone else does too, so that’s a really important piece of my job. When I’m not doing that, I assist our features editors with story ideas, pitches, and big picture thinking. My interest and editorial focus is in health, food, and fitness, so that’s the story research I enjoy most. I also supervise our HUGE team of features interns every semester. I’m in charge of finding, hiring, and ensuring they have a positive work experience during their time here. And lastly, I interact with readers! Whether on social media, reading their emails, or talking to them through in-person focus groups, I ensure that our staff is constantly connected to our reader—because at the end of the day, they keep us in business! 🙂