Prosecco, U2, and Reception

Day 1

Skinny Prosecco, bubbly flutes, and a spur of the moment interview capped off my first day – and night – of work!

But before I got to the wine, I arrived at the Hot Press office in Dublin for 11 am. Straight away my boss sent me to DCU with two other team members. Car loaded with magazines, chocolate, and Listerine, we drove over the Liffey and to the college where we distributed free magazines and sweets. Some students went “Oooh! I love Hot Press.” Others regretfully shook their heads and eyeballed the chocolate longingly. Some backtracked and inquired as to how to acquire the chocolate. Food sells!

I did not mind showing my first day enthusiasm for Hot Press! One student asked me how I got such a cool job. She hopes to one day intern for the company as well. Not long after talking with her about the job did the afternoon let down its Irish hair – rain. I helped load the ‘boot’ of the car with leftover issues and boxes, moving as quickly as possibly.

From there, I quickly prepared for the interview I was called to do (during the college visit) and found my way along the rainy, cobbled streets to the Westbury Hotel.

I felt as if I entered a golden shiny movie! Fancy brass railings, marble stairs, and flashing cameras filled the lobby outside Balfes Bar and Restaurant. I straightened up, folded my wet umbrella, and marched into the bar. Only one problem…who was I suppose to interview? What does she look like? I called the contact from the email and saw the person in front of me on her phone too. Found the woman! She introduced me to several people, including the CEO of Skinny Prosecco, Amanda Thomson. After Amanda’s speech, we found a quiet spot upstairs and chatted. I asked about the public’s reception of the wine and her future plans for the company.

Day 2

Less hectic than my first day, I stayed in the office and learned how to enter names and emails into excel for the subscription database. And then, I flipped through huge, heavy books containing Hot Press volumes from 1978 -1980! It was so tempting to stop and read everything. Rory Gallagher to pregnant help lines filled the pages. I kept on task to find all mentions of U2 for an upcoming special!

Day 3

Hello, Hot Press. Day 3 spun me in a new direction once again. I learned how to let people into the building when they buzzed the door, and I was tasked with directing all calls at reception. Having worked at a Welcome Desk throughout college, I caught on quickly! The only difference with the phones here is that Irish accents can be difficult to understand. Did you say Evan or Ian? Rosie or Roisin?

After a morning at reception,  I went upstairs to learn the tricks behind the website. An article by Caitlyn soon? Perhaps!

 

 

 

 

From WordPress to Hot Press

A Maritime Studies graduate takes on journalism! Only 30 days to go now until I land in Dublin and pursue a new field (or ocean, if you will). Instead of writing about Somalian pirates or the troubles in the South Sea, I may encounter a different type of piracy within the topics covered at Hot Press magazine. The magazine is close to or equivalent to the Rolling Stone publication. Topics span from music to politics to opinion pieces. This variety excites me as it provides more opportunity to explore the ins and outs of journalism. A recent Hot Press article announced that Irish musician, Glen Hansard, will return to Vicar Street for an Autumn show. Beneath that article, a news piece gave an update about the Eighth Amendment. Whatever I end up doing during my 12 week internship will give me a full sense of the journalism field. I hope I can prove that no matter what your degree in, you can succeed at a job that entails what you are passionate about.

At the moment, two things are on my mind:

1. Will I enjoy journalism as much as I think I will? I mean, I created the family magazine, Stewart Weekly when I was nine years old!
2. How does an Irish job differ from American job standards?

Oh, and …3) Where’s the closest ice cream shop to the office building?

As I write this down, I am in the shade on my lunch break during one of the hottest days of the summer. I currently work for the Mystic Seaport Museum, incorporating my maritime knowledge and improving my people skills. I interpret history and make concepts, such as forces used at sea, relevant to everyone. Yesterday, for instance, I explained the Coriolis Effect on hurricanes in the Northern hemisphere and how this force affects humans. In the same day, I knocked down pins with a spinning top to demonstrate the old tavern game Skittles. As I will soon do with journalism, my words will communicate and decipher knowledge for many people.

Stay tuned for the details of my internship project and duties!