Intern at The Riveter Magazine
Major: Journalism and English
Graduation year: Spring 2019
Gabriella was the recipient of the Barbara Newsome Liberal Arts Internship Scholarship for fall 2017.
Interview
Interview by Elizabeth Brunette
With which organization do you intern?
The Riveter Magazine
Where is it located?
It's online-based, with no official headquarters, but most of The Riveter's team is in Minneapolis and Chicago.
How do you find out about the internship?
I didn't necessarily "find out" about the internship, I actually asked to create one. I heard that one of The Riveter's co-founders, Kaylen Ralph, was coming to talk at a Magazine Club meeting on campus and rushed over, armed with questions and ideas to make an impression. After the meeting, I talked one-on-one with Kaylen, and we made plans to work with The Riveter that summer on the spot. I still work with them today.
What are your responsibilities?
I periodically write articles for The Riveter, interview people behind empowering organizations that partner with the magazine, and help with the curation of its social media presence. Right now, for example, I create boards for The Riveter's Pinterest account that compile anything from book recommendations to poignant articles, covering on-going social issues in depth.
What do you most enjoy?
What I enjoy most about my internship at The Riveter is the incredible opportunity to publish some of my writing in the magazine while learning through observing the trailblazing women behind it.
What is something that you learned from your internship experience?
I learned that there are a lot of moving parts in creating a magazine from the ground up. The Riveter is a relatively new publication, and I've learned from Kaylen the tremendous amount about the time, sacrifice, and dedication that's needed when creating your own publication your way.
How will your internship help you in your future studies/career?
My internship at The Riveter is one of the greatest opportunities I've had thus far in the world of long-form journalism and magazine and feature writing. I have no doubt that the connections I've made and the bylines I've been fortunate enough to publish within The Riveter will help my future endeavors as a writer.
What's one piece of advice you would give other students about securing an exciting internship?
If you really want something, take the time to do the above-and-beyond legwork in securing it. Having the courage to put yourself out there pays off—terribly cliche but incredibly true.