Indiana University

Indiana University School of Journalism

Summer in London: Sharper skills, more confidence

Thirteen honors students from the School of Journalism are spending their summer in London, working in British media and studying British culture.


Internship provides better skills, new confidence

June 28, 2008
Natalie Avon

natalie avon
Courtesy photo
Natalie Avon says her work at Morris improved her skills but also gave her confidence.
Throughout my internship at London’s Morris Visitor Publications, I gained confidence in my writing, my networking, and my ability to cross cultural barriers and perform at my highest level.

But the real story is how my last day at Morris was different from my first and the level of trust I earned along the way.

I walked in on my first day, sat at my computer and was accosted with things to fact-check and research. I graduated to writing blurbs in my second week and that continued for quite a while. That is what I expected a normal intern to do. I had done well with my first tasks and had been trusted with the more difficult ones.

I worked relentlessly for the three publications that Morris puts out: IN London, Where London and London Planner. My four bosses kept me busy with things to do for each of the publications. I worked hard and I worked fast. I wanted to prove to my bosses that I was capable of the ultimate assignment: my own feature.

Of course, I knew I might not get this assignment, but I thought that if I worked hard the only way for me to go was up. About a month before my last day, my boss gave me the project of my dreams. I had a 700-word feature due at the end of my time at Morris, and I could do with it whatever I wanted. I was nervous about taking on such a large responsibility, but my boss believed I was capable. That gave me the confidence to pursue it. I spent a full week on research for the article (with blurb-writing and fact-checking in between) before I contacted sources for interviews.

I was so used to writing newspaper articles on a daily deadline, it was hard to know what to do with a full month. I tried to spread everything out and spent a lot of time to get it exactly right. I sat down to write the feature two days before it was due, and completed it within a few hours. I had read many feature articles in past IN London magazines. My writing style was a bit different, but my boss told me to write it as I normally would. Therefore, I used my own methods to compose my first magazine piece.

I was nervous about turning it in on my last day. But after my boss read it over a few times, he had only praise and said that in his eyes, it was fit to print without changing a thing.

Morris Visitor Publications gave me the assurance I needed to carry on in any internship or job. I know that I can write for any audience in any medium if I put my pen to it. I will never forget my summer in London or the opportunities I received because of it.