Community Changer LIFESTYLE Game
Bellingham Beginnings K & L Media’s Internship Program Changes the Game WRITTEN BY LINDSEY MAJOR
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ere at Bellingham Alive, we are so excited to offer our internship program to local students looking to break into the industry. We offer internship positions in nearly all of our departments: from editorial to design, marketing to photography, and accounting. Interns get recognition on imprint at the beginning of the magazine and on several bylines throughout their internship, which enables them to grow their portfolio, giving them a head start against other applicants as they apply for full time positions. Interns also get to work interdepartmentally quite frequently, which helps demonstrate flexibility in their skills; a photography intern might have several editorial stories published any given month. “At Bellingham Alive, we dedicate a large portion of time and resources from key staff positions to create experience-driven internships. These internships provide realistic training in not only specific areas of interest, but also in working in an office setting. We welcome a new team of interns every three months, which is quite challenging for the staff, restarting the training process quarterly. Still, we strive to ensure each intern’s experience sets the stage for a successful career in their chosen field.” — Jenn Bachtel, Office Manager. Throughout the duration of the three-month program, our interns get incredible hands-on experience throughout the print cycles, such as shooting cover photos, writing feature stories, fact-checking articles written by our wonderful writers, and researching and connecting with local businesses. Through our program, students learn the basic foundations of journalism and editorial production while connecting with their community. “As a mother and business owner, I am passionate about Bellingham Alive’s internship program. Our industry can be a hard nut to crack. To be able to provide them with a platform where they get hands on experience and be published in a nationally recognized publication is vital. Whether it is design, photography, or journalism we have been able to help launch these young adults into the fields in which they are interested in. I am proud of every single one of them and Bellingham Alive for being able to provide such a valuable experience.” — Lisa Karlberg, President/Publisher We are so proud of our internship program and our interns, and we believe that this makes all of us at K & L Media game changers. Check out some of the alumni, where they’re at now, and how their internship helped shape their careers.
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BellinghamAlive.com
RACHEL POSTLEWAIT Internship: Design Now: Graphic Designer, Puget Sound Business Journal
“There is no doubt I was shaped by my design internship with Bellingham Alive. I gained an invaluable lens, seeing the inner workings of a serious publication, that solidified for me what path I was to take.”
MIKAYLA NICHOLSON Internship: Editorial Now: Education Outreach Coordinator and Projectionist, Pickford Film Center
“This year I went to Sundance Film Festival and got paid to do it, which I still can’t wrap my head around. These days mostly I’m using the writing skills I picked up at Bellingham Alive to promote or critique movies, which is a perfect fit for me.”
ERIC TRENT Internship: Editorial Now: Sports Reporter, Lynden Tribune
“Bellingham Alive helped instill in me meticulous fact-checking habits that serves me well every day at my new job. (Editors’) edits, suggestions, and tips also helped push my feature writing to another level. I’m grateful for the opportunity and the learning experience I had at Bellingham Alive.”