A Decade of Science Editor Interns: What Are They Doing Now? Barbara Mendoza Travis Went on to Intern at the National Health Magazine
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Features A Decade of Science Editor Interns: What Are They Doing Now? Barbara Mendoza Travis went on to intern at the National Health magazine. “When I was an intern, Cancer Institute. Afterward, she became it was common to have only one intern- Editor’s note: Science Editor and its forerun- news editor of the Journal of the National ship before entering into the job market,” ner, CBE Views, have hosted interns since the Cancer Institute and then associate editor of Patton says. “With the job market being late 1990s. What are the former interns doing Science News. Now living in England, she so tough now, you need to find something now? How do they look back on their experi- is a freelance science writer and editor and you’re truly happy with and do well at it. I ence? Current Science Editor intern Barbara the contributing editor for northern and recommend that one get as many intern- Mendoza found and interviewed almost all the eastern Europe at ScienceCareers.org. She ships as possible to find what one’s true former interns. Below are highlights of what is married to John Travis, European news passion is.” she learned. editor for Science magazine. Travis says she greatly enjoys her career, Linda Wang (2000–2001) When one thinks of a typical intern’s and she offers the following advice: “Keep As an intern for duties, taking lunch orders or bringing the your eyes open and absorb it all, read Science Editor, Linda rounds of morning coffee may come to everything, and apply to everything you’re Wang wrote stories mind. At Science Editor, however, interns interested in even if you don’t think you’re for Net Results (a mainly write. Previous interns at Science qualified for it—because you truly never column on Web sites Editor not only have contributed to the know, it may be your next job.” useful to science edi- publication but have gone on and used tors) and CSE News. their experiences in their later careers. Erin M Loos (2000) She also wrote fea- Erin M Loos—now ture stories, includ- Katherine Arnold (1998–1999) Erin Loos Patton— ing one presenting Katherine Arnold— was able to incor- highlights of the 2001 Linda Wang now Kate Travis— porate her interest American Association interned for the in art into her work for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Council’s publica- for Science Editor. meeting in San Francisco. tion when it was Thus, for example, Wang went on to work at the Journal of still CBE Views. she wrote the article the National Cancer Institute. She is now an She remembers “Evaluating Scienti- associate editor at Chemical & Engineering attending sessions fic Illustrations: News. her work includes writing articles on journal editing Basics for Editors”, Erin Loos Patton about education and employment; she at an annual meet- which appeared in the especially enjoys writing human-interest ing of the Council Kate Travis July–August 2000 issue. Patton says it was stories. of Biology Editors rewarding to see her writing in the magazine For those interested in a career in sci- (predecessor to the Council of Science and have her name in a byline even when ence writing or editing, Wang says she Editors). At the time, she says, she did not she was an intern. “urge[s] people to look at all different job appreciate the information as much as she Soon after her Science Editor intern- opportunities with a science-writing back- did when she began working in the field. ship, Patton became a medical editor at ground and always be open minded”, as she “Because I had come up through the ranks Encyclopedia Britannica. She now works in has been in her own career. “It’s so impor- of journalism, issues like peer review and Chicago at the public-relations firm Weber tant to think outside the box so that you conflict of interest were all new to me,” she Shandwick; she started as a writer and has don’t narrow yourself into one area. The says. “All became incredibly useful once I gone on to manage accounts in the health- field of science writing is full of opportuni- entered the real world.” care field. She also does freelance editing ties,” she says. for the Museum of Science and Industry In her spare time, Wang volunteers for barbara Mendoza, a graduate student in and the Academy of general Dentistry. a soup kitchen and “dabbles in photogra- science and technology journalism at Texas Besides her internship with Science phy”. She was married in September 2009. A&M University, is a Science Editor intern. Editor, Patton interned in the public-rela- barbara GaStel, the editor of Science tions department of a community hospi- Editor, also contributed to this article. tal and was an editorial intern at Men’s Science Editor • May – June 2010 • Vol 33 • No 3 • 79 Features Interns continued Gabe Waggoner (2001) Debra E Blakely (2002) “The article itself was a lot of fun to gabe Waggoner Debra E Blakely write. More than that, it gave me the immersed himself in was already a lec- opportunity to meet and interact with the role of intern. turer at Texas A&M many established editors at such publica- To familiarize him- University, rather tions as the Dallas Morning News, Nature, self with Science than still a student, Science News, and the children’s magazine Editor when he during her time Muse,” hobson recalls. “For a graduate stu- started, he reviewed with Science Editor. dent, this was a pretty valuable networking back issues, studied Therefore, she was opportunity, and it made for a lot of good how the publication termed a fellow rath- laughs, too.” was put together, er than an intern. After graduate school in science and proofread, checked Gabe Waggoner Blakely’s writing Debra E Blakely technology journalism, hobson spent facts, and observed for Science Editor almost 6 years as a project editor at Texas Barbara gastel’s duties as editor. he then included the feature article “Terrorism and A&M University Press. In this role, she went on to write a variety of articles. Timeliness: Scientific Periodicals Respond supervised the editing, proofreading, and Later, Waggoner was an editorial trainee to September 11 and Its Aftermath”. That production of 25 to 30 books per year. at the American Society for Microbiology article stands out to Blakely as one of her Now, hobson finds herself fully engaged and became a copyeditor there. “My favorites to write. “I was asked to speak in what she calls her “biggest project internship gave me a head start,” he says. on this topic recently for a Department of ever—cultivating a happy and healthy “It was my first real chance to apply what homeland Security course on communicat- home for my husband and baby girl.” I learned as a student of editing to practi- ing during crisis,” Blakely notes. Blakely hobson says she hopes to do freelance cal, real-world, deadline-driven editorial also wrote department pieces, such as Other editing work in the future, and she keeps situations.” Than Editing profiles. her skills sharp by assisting her husband, a Since his internship, Waggoner also has Blakely encourages future interns and pastor, with writing and editing. been a manuscript editor at the Journal of those considering a career in science writ- the National Cancer Institute and a techni- ing or editing to always be thorough. “Be Judith McIntosh White cal editor at StataCorp. From 2007 until prepared to edit or write in the specific style (2002–2003) earlier this year, he did freelance editing dictated by a journal. They vary!” exclaims Judith McIntosh full time. his work included providing Blakely. “Be thorough, and always give your- White was a Science feedback on scientists’ manuscripts, editing self some time and distance between editing Editor fellow while articles for journals and research maga- and turning in a final copy. It’s amazing working in sci- zines, and editing books. how much clarity you have when you take ence communica- “Much of my work has been directly a break from the writing or editing process.” tion at Texas A&M for journal and textbook publishers, but Blakely is now an assistant professor University. She my favorite type of work is serving as an of communication at the University of says she especially author’s editor,” he says. “By making it houston-Clear Lake. She teaches courses enjoyed writing a clear that you are the author’s ally and on a variety of topics, such as writing for feature story about Judith McIntosh advocate, you can build a nice rapport, as the media, public relations, and digital- telecommuting, in White well as a source of ongoing work.” media issues. which she had experience. Another favor- In March 2010, Waggoner became a ite piece was an Other Than Editing pro- copy and production editor at the National Jennifer Ann Hutt (2002–2003) file of Ivan Amato, whom she termed a Council of Teachers of Mathematics. his Jennifer Ann hutt— “great example of work–life balance”. work includes copyediting book manu- now Jennifer Ann White completed a PhD in agricul- scripts, coordinating with freelances, hobson—worked tural leadership, education, and commu- reviewing page proofs, and working with with Science Editor in nications in 2006. Currently, she is an design and production staff. “I work with 2002 and 2003. She assistant professor in the Department of authors from manuscript submission to especially recalls pre- Communication and Journalism at the final product, keeping them up to date paring a feature arti- University of New Mexico.