broken pencil internships
Hi there. Thanks for getting in touch about becoming a Broken Pencil Magazine intern. We get a fair number of inquiries about broken pencil accepting interns. We do want to work with you, and we can sometimes use the help. But here are some things you should know about us (other than the fact that we cannot pay you):
1. Our interns should expect to do everything from filing to ad sales to zine reviews to stuffing envelopes to copy editing to running errands to returning calls to researching and generating ideas. We expect a serious commitment to the magazine and all tasks that we give an intern must be taken seriously and done promptly and with care.
2. We are looking for people with an interest in the alternative arts and underground culture. Applicants should have read at least 2 issues of broken pencil and be familiar with what we do and why we do it. We provide magazine and publishing experience, but we also believe strongly in independent creative action and our interns should also have a passion for Do-It-Yourself creativity.
3. We expect our interns to get things done on their own. We won't be looking over your shoulder. We don't have time to! Broken Pencil is published 4 times a year. We have one editor who will direct your internship, though you might also work with the publisher and the ad sales coordinator and the business manager. Whoever you work with, you'll be expected to be self-directed.
4. Interns will work out of our office which is in downtown Toronto (Baldwin and Beverly). Internships can be full or part time, and some of the work might be done from home, but regular appearances at the office will be necessary. Sometimes we hawk the magazine at festivals and events, usually on weekends, and we expect our interns to be available to help us staff these events.
Okay, if after reading this you still think you want to work with us -- and we do hope you will -- then we will want you to email or mail us the following documents: 1) resume 2) letter stating why you want to work with BP, what you hope to learn working with us, what you think you can bring to the magazine, proposed duration of internship, and anything else you think we should know. 3) short writing sample (no more than 3 pages) -- ideally non-fiction (reviews of zines, books, cds; features, interviews, columns).
If you have any further questions, please do email editor@brokenpencil.com or give us a call at 416 204 1700. Before you apply for a certain time period, you might want to check in with us to make sure we haven't already selected someone else. Once we get your application we'll check it out and if we like it we'll set up a meeting. Either way, we'll let you know as soon as possible. Good luck whatever you decide, and we do appreciate you thinking of us!
Best,
Lindsay Gibb, BP editor and Hal Niedzviecki, BP Publisher.