Brian Mozey, a senior in journalism and mass communication from Crystal, Minnesota, is spending the Spring 2017 semester reporting and writing full-time for the Boston Globe as part of its Co-op Program. Mozey is working for the sports department, covering high school sports.
The Co-op Program, which began in 1937, gives students an entry-level opportunity to become familiar with the operations of a daily newspaper. The program’s mission states, “Our Co-ops are put into real jobs and have profound job responsibility. In addition, Co-ops at the Boston Globe and Boston.com work directly with manager, director and VP level leadership of the organization. This access to cross functional experts for both business and career advice is invaluable to building a network.”
Follow Mozey’s blog for regular updates about his co-op experience, and read his Boston Globe stories. Check out his advice for landing an internship at a top 50 daily newspaper.
What type of internship were you looking for?
I was looking for an internship that revolved around sports and was with a daily newspaper. I had worked as a summer intern at the Sun Post Newspaper, which is a weekly newspaper [in Osseo, Minnesota], and I wanted to see the differences between daily and weekly. Sports had been my number one focus throughout the application process, but I was also looking for any type of internship with a daily publication.
How did you learn about The Boston Globe sports desk co-op?
I applied to every top 50 daily newspaper in the country and the Boston Globe was in that top 50. I was looking for summer internships, but when I came across the Boston Globe application I saw they had a fall and spring co-op program as well. I thought that the number of applications might be fewer in the spring, so I decided to apply for the spring co-op as well as the summer internship.
What was the application and interview process like?
The application process was the same as most internships. I turned in my resume with my portfolio website and a cover letter. The cover letter explained why I went into the journalism field and what I could provide to the Boston Globe as a co-op. A week after turning in my application, I was asked to do a phone interview. The first interview was with the co-op coordinator and she just wanted to get to know me. The basic information like hobbies, work history and my education at Iowa State. The second interview was with the sports regional director and he went through the expectations of the co-op and made sure I agreed to the responsibilities. It was a formal interview process, but the first time I ever saw the two of them was the first day of my co-op.
What classes and activities prepared you for your internship?
The Iowa State Daily was one of the main activities that prepared me for the Boston Globe. The ability to understand how a daily newsroom operates and the pressure of being put on deadline is something you need to experience before having an internship. My JL MC 201 class with [Lisa Munger Oakes](/greenlee-v2/) prepared me for this co-op as well. She taught us about deadlines and the structures behind different types of articles. I use those formats in my Boston Globe articles.
Had you ever been to Boston before? How did you learn about the city (the high schools you’re covering, how to get around, etc.) in such a short time?
I had never been to Boston before this co-op, so it was a difficult transition, but luckily, I had a strong support system with my family, friends, fraternity brothers and the Boston Globe staff. As for learning about my coverage area, that started before I was offered the co-op. My coverage area includes the southern area of Massachusetts (from North Quincy to Wareham), which includes between 55-60 high schools. I had to start my research early because I was speaking about these areas in my interviews and with the large amount of high schools, I needed to get going on understanding the teams right away. Once I was in Boston, I was able to email, call and meet some of the athletic directors and they were nice enough to give me some ideas for stories in the beginning.
Did you have to find your own housing? If so, how were you able to find a place?
I did have to find my own housing, but the Boston Globe helped me find a safe place that was close to my coverage area. The process of finding a place and signing my lease took the entire month of December, but with the help of a realtor and my parents I was able to sign a lease on a beautiful home.
What advice do you have for students who may be interested in doing an internship that’s far from home and Ames?
My advice would be to simply go if you have the opportunity to do an internship far from home or Ames. I came to Boston knowing no one and nothing about the city, but after a week in this city, I have a few friends and a better understanding. These experiences don’t come often in your life and the ability to do them while you’re young is amazing. If you’re scared about not having friends or not having family or not knowing your surroundings, it’s okay. I had the exact same feelings, but all of these thoughts will became distant memories once you spend a couple weeks in your new location. If I had the ability to redo my decision on coming to Boston, I would’ve accepted this position again because these real-world experiences are priceless.