Books and House & Home by David Evans

Wednesday 9 December 2009

I can only agree with the positive comments made by previous interns in their blogs; I've found the FT internship to be informative and enjoyable in equal measure.

The chance to witness first-hand the day-to-day operations of a global newspaper is one not to be missed. On my first day, after a tour of the impressive FT offices at One Southwark St, I was invited to sit in on the morning’s meeting, at which the editors appraised the latest edition, and set the agenda for the next. I found it fascinating – whether it was a contributor revealing a “scoop”, or Mr. Barber identifying an errant adjective in one of the previous day's reports, the meeting offered a number of insights into the editorial process.

Working amidst the rather more sedate pace of the Books and House & Home sections of FT Weekend, I feel valued as part of the team. I’m trusted to work independently on jobs that that need to be done, rather than – as might happen elsewhere – tasks dreamt up simply to occupy the intern. Fact-checking copy and researching future articles, I’m making a real, if minor, contribution, and that leads to a sense of satisfaction on seeing the finished product each week.

As an intern at the FT, you’re not just making contacts (or, indeed, the tea), you’re getting demonstrable experience and a sense of what being a journalist entails – and that includes some writing. I’ve contributed short articles to the House & Home section – I can now testify to the thrill of seeing my first by-line in print – and I'm currently working on a book review due to be published on FT.com. The editors are happy to take the time to discuss the internship and to dispense advice, which I'm sure will be of benefit when I look to take the next step in my career in journalism.