www.roanoke.com

“Experience is always crucial in the job market, and the same goes for journalism. When I came to the Roanoke Times, daily writing and reporting experience was something I lacked. Despite my experience, the editors worked with me to improve my writing and reporting. I am able to take what I learned from the Roanoke Times and apply it to my future endeavors.” -- Joshua Garner, reporter, University of Maryland

“It's one of the first internships I've had where the newsroom feels like an inclusive family, not just a nine-to-five office where reporters do their jobs and leave. That's important to me.” -- Jonathan Cribbs, reporter, University of Maryland

“During my summer internship, I was treated as a staff member and became part of a part of a cohesive team at The Roanoke Times. My editors treated me with respect and were always available for an honest edit of my work. Over the course of the summer, my technical skills drastically improved and I was able to get a lot of photos to use in my portfolio. I learned more from these several weeks than I could have ever learned in a classroom setting. An overall very rewarding experience.” -- Casey Templeton, photo, James Madison University

“The camaraderie amongst the Roanoke Times staff is really strong and it was an honor to be a part of it during my internship. I think that the photo department's team dynamic under Kelly [Hahn Johnson] is inspiring because it really encourages better storytelling and a healthy working space. I learned something new every day here, and overall had a memorable experience that I know I will draw on in the future.” -- Pamela Chen, photo, Syracuse University

“Summer interns at the newspaper are typically treated like full-time reporters and expected to wrestle with the same tasks and challenges that goes along with that title: developing sources, juggling story ideas, collaborating with other reporters and producing daily work consistently and cheerfully under deadline. Each intern is assigned to one of the newsroom's five teams and given a mentor, usually a veteran reporter, who acts as a guide and reporting coach throughout the summer. Tech-heads will also thrive here. The newsroom is aggressively pursuing several hi-tech projects, such as experimenting with pod- and video-casting, aimed at attracting more digital savvy readers. As for the area, Roanoke is a highly underrated city, even for this native New Yorker. It's location in the foothills of Southwest Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains offer plenty of incentive to get yourself outdoors whether it's for hiking, biking or simply lounging on the grass and gazing up at the clouds.” -- Christina Rogers, reporter, New York University

“The newsroom environment was friendly and welcoming, and reporters and editors treated me less like an intern and more like a reporter, although I focused more on enterprising pieces than on the daily-production schedule the majority of the reporters there observed. I never lacked for counsel during my time there, as I could go to any reporter and ask questions, get feedback and learn more about the area, my topic of coverage or the paper's expectations.”

“The facet of the program I'd like to tout most is the mentorship pairing. Not long into my internship, I was set up with a mentor who pushed me to achieve and who was frank with me about what I'd done well and where I could improve. My editors did an excellent job of partnering me with someone who made me work harder, ask more questions and get more out of my experience in the newsroom and the New River Valley.”

“I firmly believe that the internship helped me with job prospects and taught me a bit more about the working world and what to expect from a career in journalism. It also taught me a great deal about the things I do and don't want from a writing career, and my editors helped me see where I need to improve in order to better my ability to cover stories while constantly challenging myself.” -- Michelle Jarboe, reporter, University of North Carolina

“Being fresh out of graduate school, I came to Roanoke prepared for nearly anything. After all, I'd survived a level of academia most hesitate to even attempt.But what I found as an intern at The Roanoke Times could not be replicated by classrooms or research papers. Rather, I was tossed in the churning waters of news online -- sans lift-vest. I could not have been happier. Not only did I learn by trial-and-error, but also through guidance provided by my editor and co-workers. I also gained much from the experience of producing and managing content alongside other news-team members, something I hadn't found in other positions. I'm extremely pleased with my decision to participate in a summer internship with The Roanoke Times. After all, it led to the job I have today!” -- Patrick Beeson, online, University of Alabama

“The best thing about The Roanoke Times is that it provides the nurturing environment novices need but is still a sizeable newspaper.” -- Suzanne Wardle, copy editor, Northwestern University