Ed loves feisty up-and-comers willing to do whatever it takes to make it in this industry, including taking unpaid internships. That’s why he doles out his trust fund once a semester to one deserving candidate—or two, in this summer’s case.
One of our two recent winners is Alyssa Loonam, a soon-to-be senior at Rutgers University. The New Jersey native, a journalism and media studies major, is interning at O, the Oprah Magazine.
“I got into the magazine industry really from being a fan of magazines,” she told us. “I’ve always loved magazines as a dual source of both entertainment and key information about anything—from the latest trends to smart buys to reported stories from around the globe. I thought being able to work behind-the-scenes at a publication would be an awesome experience.”
Read on to hear about her awesome job at O and her advice for fellow Edsters.
Why did you want to intern at O? Before O, I interned in the Redbook fashion closet. I had such a positive, amazing experience there that I knew I wanted to further explore a career in magazines—and particularly fashion. When I met with Zoë Roscoe, the O fashion assistant, I was immediately drawn to how ecstatic she was about working for O and to magazine’s professionalism. There are many hardworking people at O, and I knew it would be an honor to be a part of a magazine with such integrity. So far, it’s been great!
How did your past internships prepare you for this one? I had never worked in a fashion closet before starting at Redbook, so I learned a lot of the basics there. It helps that O is also a Hearst magazine and that incoming and outgoing messenger systems are very similar. The entire Redbook team was very helpful and always answered any questions I had. For example, even if I did not work with someone directly, he or she would always be willing to help me. I’m definitely much less afraid to ask questions at my second internship because of that experience.
What’s your daily schedule like at your internship? What’s the coolest thing you’ve gotten to do so far? Being in the fashion closet, I work with the other interns to coordinate sample trafficking in and out of the closet. We normally keep clear invoices and make sure the closet is organized and that samples are taken care of properly. It’s always neat seeing what fashion pieces get sent, because the items typically aren’t on the market yet! It’s kind of like a sneak peek at the trends to come several months from now. I also got to attend a photo shoot a couple of weeks ago. I can’t give too much away, but that was probably the coolest thing I’ve done so far!
What are your favorite magazines, and why? I have so many favorites! For starters, definitely O and Redbook, just because I’ve been behind-the-scenes and I’ve seen how hardworking those teams are. Before interning for a magazine, I loved anything I could relate to—whether it be fashion, beauty, health, or women’s issues. The list goes on! Now, I have an even greater appreciation for all magazines—whether it’s a magazine that features more hard-reported stories or ones that are entertainment-based, it’s a lot of work regardless. Seeing so many different parts come together ultimately for one successful publication is an experience I treasure greatly, whether I’m behind the scenes or just as a reader.
How did you hear about Ed? I heard about Ed from a college roommate in December 2014. I immediately applied and landed both of my magazine internships because of Ed2010!
What do you think made your Ed Trust Fund application stand out? I think the financial aspects I talked about in my application essay. Unfortunately, most magazines only hire on interns as long as they can earn credit. While the trust fund was a blessing, my credits still cost more than the trust fund gave me! It’s kind of shocking, but sadly, it’s the truth.
What advice would you give to aspiring interns? If you haven’t landed an internship yet, keep applying! Apply everywhere, even if you don’t think you’ll like the internship. Accept every interview! Even if you don’t think the internship is for you, interview experience is great. And when you do land an internship, do everything in your power to meet as many people as possible and take every opportunity. Be a superstar!
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