Chicago Magazine editors talk content, internships
By Janica Kaneshiro
A group of around 10 students arrived at the storied Chicago Tribune Tower for a media visit early Friday afternoon. They were set to visit Chicago Magazine, which is owned by the Chicago Tribune Media Group. The magazine covers everything Chicago has to offer, from dining to politics, from real estate to arts and culture.
The IU group had the chance to sit down with three editors of Chicago Magazine to talk content, the digital age and internships.
IU graduate Carrie Shedler met the students at the entrance to the magazine and led them into the conference room. The group was given the most recent edition of Chicago Magazine to take home, which featured an article on the top bars in Chicago.
Shedler led an informal discussion about how the magazine works and how she made her way to editor since graduating in 2011.
“I did a couple of internships and decided ‘I am not a hard news person’ but I was able to get an entry level magazine job which eventually got me here,” Shedler said.
She also doled out general advice on what it is like working in magazines.
“We work a couple issues in advance,” Shedler said. “Long range is really important in the magazine industry.”
The group was later joined by editors Emmet Sullivan and Luke Seeman, who specialize in the internship program and digital content respectively. Sullivan had previously worked at People before coming to Chicago Magazine.
Freshman Taylor Telford asked the trio what they were looking for in future interns.
“We’re looking for candidates who are organized, who have phone skills, they’re outgoing, they exhibit professionalism, they can write for web and they submit clips that show a fresh angle on things,” Sullivan said.
Students who are interested in applying for an internship at Chicago Magazine were told to contact Sullivan at internships@chicagomagazine.com.
Senior Mary Shown asked how Shedler found her way so soon after college.
“I don’t know what I’m doing after graduation yet, and I don’t really know what I want to do,” Shown said.
Shedler reassured her that her feelings were normal and reaffirmed that she also didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do when she left IU.
“You’ll have a moment in a couple of years where you’ll understand what your dream job is and you’ll be like ‘I’m doing it,’” Shedler said.
As the students left, Telford said she could see herself working at the magazine in the future.
“This is so cool,” Telford said. “ I just feel like these people are so real and what they’re doing is so awesome.”