Newspaper jobs offer laughs and learning

It’s that time of year again when the feverish scramble to complete projects and papers before finals week begins. It’s also the time of year when we begin to assemble a new team here at “The Bengal” for the upcoming year.
In the three years I’ve worked for the student newspaper, it has felt much more like play than like work. Some of the best friends I’ve had in college have been colleagues from the newspaper, and some of the best laughs I have are at our weekly staff meetings. We’ve always had an effortless, easy-going atmosphere that makes work a blast.
But don’t get me wrong, working for us isn’t just an excuse to goof off and get nothing done. Working for “The Bengal” has also been an extremely enriching experience that has forced me to hone my skills in every aspect of being a journalist.
I’m now a much better interviewer, writer and all-around communicator. I used to be terrified at the idea of doing multiple interviews per week for articles. Now interviews are an obstacle of the past. Though I’ve still been known to trip over my words (and the occasional fake office plant…) during interviews, my time with the paper has dramatically improved my comfort level as both an interviewer and an interviewee.
It may seem like a job at “The Bengal” is only helpful for those looking to go into journalism. That couldn’t be further from the truth! Our writing positions (AKA a large portion of our positions) are beneficial for anyone who writes, period. Writing upwards of 400 words will become so normal to you that knocking out 8 to 10 page papers will seem like a breeze. You may also grow to inexplicably hate the Oxford comma.
Because of my work at “The Bengal,” I’ve been able to improve my communication skills in every aspect. Not only is interviewing easier, I’ve also really learned how to work as part of a team. Every person on our staff is important and necessary for the best possible final product, which makes it easy to appreciate the role each person plays in a group dynamic.
Whether you’re interested in pursuing a position in writing, graphic design, photography or advertising, we have a potential job for you. “The Bengal” is a great place to hone those skills for school, work, or simply for leisure, and your talented coworkers are an excellent resource.
Finally, working with us can make your time at Idaho State University a more enriching experience. Our staffers are often in the know about various events, organizations and more, and make a lot of useful connections with other students, faculty and staff at the university.
In all honesty, the benefits of working with us are practically endless. As with any other job, the experience is definitely what you make it, but the plethora of cool people and interesting opportunities certainly helps.
If you’re interested in seeing what “The Bengal” might be able to offer you, check out our Help Wanted ads in this and next week’s issues, see our website or Facebook postings, look on BengalJobs or email me at ude.usinull@feihcgb. We hope to hear from you!