As an aspiring journalist and a big British culture enthusiast, when the opportunity to do an internship abroad in vibrant London offered itself, I jumped on it. Not only would it provide me insight into what a working journalist does, but also, it would be in the beautiful, dreamy London.
This semester, I'm working as a Journalist for Made in Shoreditch Magazine. Shoreditch is a neighborhood in London that's a creative hub full of colorful street art, hip pubs, restaurants, and cafes, edgy galleries, stores, and popular nightclubs. Think of it as the equivalent of Williamsburg in New York, Le Marais in Paris, or Adams Morgan in Washington, D.C.
In the magazine's own words:
"MiS (Made in Shoreditch) Magazine is a lifestyle publication about Creativity & Innovation from London's heart of Innovation and Creativity. Founded in 2011, MiS Magazine was born as a print magazine, to tell the story about the Shoreditch area in London - one of the most vibrant and innovative districts in the world, which is loved by people for its alternative arts & culture, buzzing startup scene, unique fashion, independent shops and the crazy party culture.
However, over the years MiS Magazine stopped printing and has grown into one of the leading creative online publications in London covering the sparkles of Innovation & Creativity in Arts & Culture | Tech & Startups | Fashion & Style | Dining & Nightlife in London and around the world."
As an artist, adventurer, and lover of culture, this role is the perfect fit for me. My job consists of researching topics pertaining to art, innovation, culture, and creativity in London and around the world. Part of my work also involves managing social media, attending and covering events, writing articles, and making videos. One of the events I covered was the opening of a Japanese tea room called Katsute100.
While my internship is mostly virtual due to the lack of a physical office for MIS, my supervisor is very present and receptive, but at the same time, he gives me a lot of space to grow and learn on my own. I enjoy every bit of it. It pushes me to go beyond my comfort zone to write about things I don't know much about, which involves a lot of research.
My internship also helps me improve my communication skills due to the myriad of events I attend for work. It also makes me more culturally intelligent because Shoreditch is a very vibrant area. I meet a lot of amazing people from all over the world. For example, I chatted with an interesting Italian food and travel journalist at the tea room opening event mentioned above. At the same event, I met a couple, one British woman and her Franco-Italian husband.
To sum it up, my experience at Made in Shoreditch so far is fantastic, and my internship supervisor is very helpful and pleasant to work with. I can't wait to look back on my internship experience in December and reflect on all the work I will have accomplished and all the skills I will have gained.