As a U2 political science and history student, Ottawa the summer before an election was just about one of the most exciting places I could think of to be working. During my internship at The Hill Times, an Ottawa-based, twice-weekly newspaper covering federal politics, I was not only right in the middle of the action, but able to examine and chat with experts about the events that were taking place around me.
Throughout my time at McGill, I’ve been heavily involved in student journalism. From starting as a contributor for The McGill Tribune in my first year to being selected as a news editor during the end of my second, my enthusiasm for journalism has only grown, and I knew that this summer I wanted to gain some real-world experience to see if it was actually something I wanted to pursue.
The Hill Times allowed me to achieve this and more. Because the newspaper focused on federal politics, I was able to recall and expand on information that I had studied in my political science lectures by talking to MPs, Senators, and political strategists. My internship was thus perfect for me in two ways: it allowed me to gain actual experience in an industry that interested me while enabling me to build knowledge directly related to my major at McGill.
As a newsroom intern, I was given quite a bit of independence in producing content for the paper, which comes out every Monday and Wednesday. I would attend news meetings, which occurred on those two days, and would be assigned articles by my editors to be completed for next week’s edition. I would also get to hear what stories my colleagues in the newsroom were working on, and pick their brains for new sources and angles. I typically produced two to three articles a week for both print and online, depending on the complexity of the stories.
Once assigned a story, I would typically spend a few hours researching the topic and reaching out to experts for interviews. During my time at The Hill Times, I was privileged to speak with senators, MPs, pollsters, professors, strategists, and even other journalists. Because each story usually required at least three interviews, finding sources was often one of the most difficult parts in the process, however, I eventually found strategies that made it easier. Then it was time to write and file the story before deadline, which was at noon on Friday or Tuesday, depending on the issue I was writing for.
While most of the stories I wrote allowed me to work from my desk, there were a few occasions on which I was able to venture out to Parliament Hill. The two committee meetings I covered were among the most memorable stories I wrote: one was a justice committee meeting regarding the nomination of Nicholas Kasirer (a former McGill dean of law) to the Supreme Court, and the other a foreign affairs committee meeting regarding allegations that the Prime Minister’s Office had been silencing former diplomats. Being able to witness these historic moments firsthand, as opposed to behind a T.V. screen or in a lecture hall, really shaped my perception of politics in general and gave me a very real sense of the challenges associated with covering politics as a journalist in this political climate.
I am looking forward to continuing to explore these challenges through my work with Prof. Daniel Beland at McGill, with whom I will be completing my for-credit research paper about media reporting on gender during the Canadian election. Gender issues have always been of interest to me, so I am excited to examine the relationship between gender, the media, and elections. I am confident that my experience at The Hill Times has prepared me to tackle issues relating to journalism from an academic standpoint.
Lastly, I would like to thank those at the Arts Student Employment fund for making this internship possible. Without your support, I most likely would have been required to find a second job in addition to my full-time internship. Your support has made it possible for me to maintain a balance lifestyle while exploring my passions and gaining experience that I am confident will serve me well throughout the rest of my academic and professional career.
