Forty clips -- and a lot more

By Lina Miller
Special to chipsquinn.org

Posted: March 31, 2009

Lina Miller

If the mark of a fine newspaper is the quality of the care and attention given to each intern, then the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota is one of the best midsize papers in the country.

Upon arriving at the Times, fellow Scholar Charles Pulliam and I were greeted graciously by every staff member. Executive Editor John Bodette and Assistant Executive Editor Sue Halena gave us detailed itineraries of our first few days of training, and plans of internship dinners were put into action.

Halena was consistent in making sure that Charles and I had everything we needed in our new homes and was genuinely interested in how we were getting along in our new town.

I was assigned to the features department. Frank Lee, assistant life editor; Amy Bowen, food and features reporter; and Adam Hammer, arts and entertainment reporter, were willing and ready to answer my questions. We became a team, complete with inside jokes and high fives.

Lee gave me the chance to write my first column and supported my decision to write about feminism for an audience that many perceive to be politically conservative.

Bowen offered her friendship and some beautiful advice. “Our job is just as important as lawyers and doctors,” she said. “We may not get paid as much, but there are people out there who have stories they need to tell to someone who will listen.”

I came away from the internship with more than 40 clips that included several front-page stories and centerpieces in every weekly tab. I received many e-mails from community members grateful for my words.

Opportunities like these helped me grow and challenge myself as a journalist. I was grateful that I also had the confidence and support of my colleagues.

The positive outlook that brews in the Times newsroom has inspired me on my journalism path, despite the negative attitudes and economic distress in the industry. It has also reminded me that people in every community have stories to tell.

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