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Mastering the Art of Journalism at HottyToddy.com

Published

11 years ago

December 16, 2013

In today’s job market it’s important for recent graduates to have experience in their field. For journalism students, HottyToddy.com provides interns with opportunities to hone skills learned in the classroom.

Editor Andy Knef speaks to Debra Wenger’s J500 class in the HottyToddy.com newsroom.

In October 2012, publisher and Meek School namesake, Ed Meek, started HottyToddy.com to give back the school he feels so passionately about. Profits are poured right back into the Meek School of Journalism and New Media as scholarships for journalism students.

“Our interns play a vital role in the everyday operation of HottyToddy.com,” managing editor Kate Sinervo said. “We love working with students and enjoy helping the grow and improve as professionals.”

Six student interns, as well as Debra Wenger’s Journalism 500 class, contributed to the website this past fall. The interns met with the staff on a weekly basis and were expected to write at least two stories each month.

The interns wrote about topics they found interesting and newsworthy within the Oxford, Lafayette County, and University communities.

“I came in knowing how to write, and that improved, but my interviewing skills grew the most,” intern Grace Sullivan said. “I became more confident interviewing people in positions of authority. Before I started working here, that would have intimidated me.”

Helping students grow as journalists is the mission HottyToddy.com hopes to accomplish. The editorial staff takes a hands-on approach to supporting and mentoring each contributing writer.

“One of the most gratifying things about my job is meeting and working with young journalists,” Andy Knef, editor of HottyToddy.com, said. “At HottyToddy.com we have the best of both worlds. We’re able to work with students as colleagues but also as mentors helping lead them into a successful career in journalism.”

Anyone interested in applying for an internship, please send your resume, a cover letter, and work/writing samples to kate.sinervo@hottytoddy.com. HottyToddy.com is specifically looking for interns in the following areas: news reporting, feature writing, sports writing, music/arts reporting, graphic design, photography, WordPress, and social media.