Behind the scenes of magazine - what goes on.....?

Question

Does anyone work at a magazine here that can give me run down on what goes on and what a trainee would do? Or direct me to any sites that would have this information etc. Thank you :)

Answer 1

Are you looking for an internship position, or an entry-level job? I'm answering based on an internship.

The job description would probably vary depending upon the size of the magazine, the number of interns, whether it's a paid or unpaid internship and other factors. Here are a few JDs I found online:

Music Magazine Intern
http://www.vault.com/jobs/jobboard/viewjob.jsp?postjob_num=15237118963
Interns will assist with all aspects of production, from editorial, marketing, promotions and advertising. Duties will include answering phones, various office tasks, some phone work, assisting each department with their tasks, and helping with promotions the magazine puts on at local live music venues. Interns will interact with advertisers, musicians, record labels and other music businesses.

New Jersey Monthly
http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/careers/resources/internships-recent.asp
Two editorial interns are hired each year and learn the ropes, from fact-checking, research, writing, calendars, production.

Boston Magazine
http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/careers/resources/internships-recent.asp
Interns fact-check, research, attend editorial meetings, get mentored, learn how to pitch and have the opportunity to write if they show the talent.

Pregnancy Magazine
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Ad_Intern.cfm?JobID=657995
Duties of a Pregnancy Magazine intern include (but are not limited to): maintaining publicity database, monthly mailings, organizing product sample returns, writing and researching articles, making phone calls, prize fulfillment for giveaways, researching special projects and assisting the editors in their daily tasks.

If you have a particular genre of magazine that you're interested in (entertainment, fashion, business), see what you can find out about the magazine itself and if you can network with any alumni from your college/university to get the inside scoop from a current employee. They can probably give you the best idea of what a position there would entail.