By David Lurie
But at Richner Communications, the opportunity to be in the center of investigative reporting and newspaper production at a professional newspaper is readily accessible to qualified high school or college student.
Through its internship program, Richner Communications has been developing motivated scholars for a number of years. The program offers students the unique opportunity to work side-by-side with experts in any area of the business. Successful interns have spent time in the Editorial, Sales, Circulation, Art/Design, Marketing and Finance departments, each offering a unique perspective of the production process of a weekly publication.
"The Herald puts interns into real life situations so they can get a feel of what it's like to be a part of the organization," said Cliff Richner, publisher of the Herald Community newspapers. "They have more responsibilities than they would have at a large company." Richner Communications has been accepting interns from the community for over 20 years, Richner explained.
"The staff members at the Herald Newspapers are committed to the residents of the communities we cover," said Jacquie Rath, director of Marketing. "Reaching out to young adults through our internship program is one of the ways we stay involved in those communities."
Richner Communication uses the internship program as a way to educate students, but concurrently it benefits from the fresh perspective that these interns provide.
"It's good to have new people with new insights and new approaches," said John O'Connell, executive editor of the Editorial Department. He recalled how interns have enhanced the depth of a particular story because of their understanding of a youth's viewpoint in the community. An experienced reporter may have been able to report on the recent iPhone release, but Marc Beja of Oceanside, an intern hailing from New York University, was able to uniquely relate to the technology of his generation.
Beja is reaping the rewards of this ideology as his portfolio continues to grow. "As a journalism student it doesn't matter what your grades are - it matters what you publish," Beja said. "The Herald gave me the opportunity to do just that."
Anthony Bottan, of Rockville Centre, a former intern at Richner Communcations, has progressed up the ranks and recently acquired a job with the Herald as reporter for the Valley Stream and Lynbrook/East Rockaway Heralds. Another former Herald intern from 2002, Andrew Hackmack, of Hicksville, has recently been hired as the new editor for Valley Stream. Groomed as future employees, the connections developed during their internships assisted in their ultimate employment.
"The Herald gave me a taste of what real world journalism was like," said Bottan. "You don't really know until you're in it."
Although the reporters' by-line appears at the top of each story, the newspapers would not be produced if it were not for a number of other departments. These other areas of production welcome interns to learn the craft of their respective units.
Allie Leff of Hewlett, a student at the University of Binghamton, has been interning since the end of May, initially in the marketing department then switching gears to work in the sales department. Along with fellow intern and high school friend Alexis Kinsley, Leff ventures to all districts of the Herald Community's coverage area to sell advertising to local businesses.
"Over the past two months I've learned more than I ever could in the classroom," Leff said. The duo has accepted the responsibilities of a employee of Richner Communications. They regularly attend sales calls and answer inquiries from businesses looking to purchase advertising. Additionally, they receive a commission similar to other sales representatives.
Kinsley, an upcoming junior at Boston University enjoys the intimate setting the Herald facilitates. As an experienced intern she has worked in a much larger, corporate sales environment and found Richner Communications to be a gratifying opportunity.
"The Herald is a lot more local and personal," said Kinsley. "I liked that you actually meet the person you are selling to."
Richner Communication provides a unique variety of resources that interns can explore during their time in the program. With many students still trying to narrow down their interests to select a major, the internship program allows them to get a taste of different areas of production.
"I learned I didn't want to be a journalist," said Allegra D'Alo of Oceanside, an intern in the editorial department. Whether an intern is engrossed in the intricacies of the Art department or despises their time spent in the finance department, the experience has helped to guide them into to a career they can enjoy.
The possibilities are endless, but the mission of Richner Communication is simple. As O'Connell said, "We want interns to find what they're looking for."
Comments about this story? Execeditor@liherald.com
