A day in the life of an intern
Ridiculously high heels, perfectly manicured nails, gorgeous make up, photo shoots and glossy pages are the way many people envisage the world of magazine journalism. Little do many people know that that is not how it always is behind the scenes of a magazine publishing office. Chick flicks over the years have given many people the idea that the magazine industry is a glamorous way to make money, what the movies do not show us is that the magazine industry is in fact fast paced, cut throat and controlled by the strictest deadlines known to most of humankind.
I was lucky enough to spend the last week job shadowing some of the beautiful ladies of Woman and Home magazine. Now, I think now is a good time to tell you that I was totally and utterly brainwashed by the chick flicks I mentioned earlier, where the magazine industry is made out to be an easy going, laughter and smiles all the time, kind of job. Not everything they show you in the movies is made up, for example, they do wear RIDICULOUSLY high heels. However the scene they forgot to show you in the movie is when the new intern; myself, frantically tries to keep up with the lifestyle editor as she runs around the shopping centre like a runaway train sourcing décor for a shoot. It is important to know now that I barely managed to keep up with this seasoned shopper of a lifestyle editor who, I forgot to mention, was wearing 6 inch Steve Madden’s!! One word comes to mind here. EXHAUSTED!
This past week I learnt to conduct an interview, do research for articles, source clothes and décor for shoots, pack boxes, attend meetings, and help out at photo shoots and many more unbelievable skills. But the most important thing I learnt is that a career in the magazine industry requires a lot more than high heels and designer clothes. It takes a lot of dedication, passion, hard work and determination. Apart from the heels, make up, glam clothes and beautiful people the magazine industry is full of stress, strict deadlines, broken nails, frantic phone calls, scrapped ideas, grumpy editors and large amounts of last minute rushing.
Right now you must be wondering if I am contemplating finding a new career path for my future. And the answer would be NO!! This past week has shown me a different side of magazine journalism, possibly the hidden side no one really gets to see, it has shown me what hard work is! Over this last week I have not been scared off of a career in the magazine industry but rather it has reaffirmed my determination to work in this industry and it has made me even more passionate about what I want to do. Because at the end of the day, a difficult job and one that takes a lot of effort, is always rewarding!!
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