If you’ve ever read The Devil Wears Prada, you know that internships are not the easiest jobs in the world. I’m far from following in heroine Andy Sachs’ shoes, but I would be lying if I said it was smooth sailing at Metro Pulse. Working for a newspaper means fact gathering, data input, and numerous hours spent glued to the computer (carpal tunnel, anyone?).

That said, I would not be working for Metro Pulse if I didn’t enjoy it, and it’s not all work. There’s a good deal of play involved as well.

Working for a newspaper has a surprising amount of perks. As a media outlet, we get a lot of press releases, and I mean a lot! Agents e-mail us for a variety of things: CD releases, book signings, festivals, and wakeboard contests. These agents are willing to do almost anything, including mailing us free samples, to get the word out about their clients.

While I was working on events for the calendar, I stumbled across an e-mail promising a free copy of the book the agent was promoting if our paper would write and publish a review of it. An avid reader, I jumped on the deal. A week later, I had my own preview copy to peruse. Being an intern, however, I was not handed the task of writing a review for it (which was actually a good thing, as I quickly found it was not my style of reading).

Inputting calendar events allows B., R., and I to be “in the know”, so to speak, about majors events, concerts, and festivals occurring in Knoxville. We know a good week in advance (because we try to compose the calendar about a week before publication deadline) what performances to expect, before anyone else has even the slightest idea. This means we get to jump on tickets before they sell out!

One of the best perks about working for Metro Pulse is receiving VIP passes during Sundown in the City. These badges secure us spots on a (very nice) balcony overlooking all of Market Square. From there, we can clearly see the bands performing without having to jostle through the crowded square trying to locate seats or, more likely, a standing vantage point. Not only do we get to escape the crowds and the heat, but we get to nosh off a buffet of finger foods, free beer (for those of us 21 and up), and mouthwatering desserts. It doesn’t hurt that we also get to watch the (often interesting, sometimes bizarre) people below, whenever we tire of watching the bands.

The most exciting experience of my internship was when the Mastercraft Pro Wakeboard Tour came to Knoxville. Every reporter (and, at Metro Pulse, every intern) was invited to come out and take free wakeboard lessons on the river the day before the competition! We were also invited to take a spin in the sea helicopter hired for the event.

Unfortunately, I had to turn down the offer because I had already agreed to spend the day in the mountains with friends. Still, I made sure to come the following day to watch the wakeboarders compete and to snap pictures for Metro Pulse. They had pro athletes from around the world doing flips, spins, and burn-outs all right here, in my home city! It was crazy, and I enjoyed every minute of that day.

One of the biggest perks about being an intern at Metro Pulse is that the editors encourage the interns to attend the editors’ meeting held every Wednesday. At these meetings, all the ideas for the paper take seed and begin to flower. The meetings usually last an hour to an hour and a half. During that time, editors of different sections bounce ideas off one another, expand on topics, and plan for upcoming issues.

My boss, L., encourages B., R., and I to contribute any ideas we have, “no matter how silly they may seem because you never know if one of the editors will pick it up”. I’ve actually had several of the editors warm to thoughts I’ve thrown on the table about potential stories, or even information I can add to present articles already in the works.

Even when I don’t contribute, being at the editors’ meeting is a great experience. I love watching the different personalities clash as people from different backgrounds, religions, and education brainstorm together. The interactions can be chaotic, but from this chaos springs the creation of the newspaper.

It’s a magical feeling to see an mere passing thought be transformed into a printed article, to hold the paper open to that page and realize “I watched this come into existence! I remember the day that idea was proposed, and look at it now: a full length article complete with pictures.” It is like being a mother and observing your child grow into an adult before your eyes.

Internships are never easy, but they are not supposed to be. You take on an internship to learn about the field, to test your wings, and to explore your options. Along the way, you are exposed to a plethora of unusual ventures you might otherwise miss out on. By interning at Metro Pulse, I know about concerts and events before anyone else, I get to experience the VIP life at certain venues, and I can receive certain freebies (such as books or wakeboard lessons).

Being an intern is hard, but it is also an adventure. That often quoted phrase “nothing is ever easy” applies to all things, especially internships, but so does the quote “the things worth having are also the things worth fighting for”. I’ve loved every moment at Metro Pulse. The good experiences always outweigh the bad, and there are plenty of good moments.