Editor’s Note:
This summer the RANGE team had our first ~cohort~ of interns (OK, we had two) working alongside us. We carefully developed a program that would enable local students of any skill level to join our small worker-owned newsroom, grow into more challenging tasks, and produce meaningful journalism and put a call out to local colleges.
The result has been amazing to watch. We got to see Pascal Bostic, then a film student at Spokane Falls Community College, grow more confident behind the camera shooting photos and TikToks for us. We also got to see Holly VanVoorhis, an English student at Whitman College, take on more and more complex writing assignments and articles — you’ll hear more from her in a second.
Part of our mission at RANGE is to build up the next generation of local journalists and tear down barriers that prevent people from getting into the industry, like 4-year degrees and overly-competitive internships. While we’re a long way from building the journalism apprenticeship/workforce development program of our dreams, this intern program is one more piece of the puzzle that our region now has. And if this summer is any indication, there is amazing talent and eagerness in the next generation of aspiring journalists in Spokane that is just waiting for the opportunity to grow.
If you want to support this work and give more Spokane students the opportunity to see what worker-owned news is all about, consider becoming a member of RANGE. With just $10 (or more!) per month, you can help us grow the next generation of local journalists.
Here’s what Holly had to say about interning at RANGE. (Disclaimer: we did not make her write nice things about us)
Hi!
My name is Holly VanVoorhis, I’m an English major at Whitman College, I’m originally from Spokane, and this summer I worked as a writing intern for RANGE Media.
Growing up in Spokane, I read local news about the city to stay up to date. When I moved to Walla Walla for school, though, reading the news became a way to connect with an area I felt less involved in, and reading RANGE became a way for me to share information about the Inland Northwest with my peers, most of whom moved to Southeastern Washington from the West side or California.
I sent RANGE a letter inquiring about internships opportunities last December because working for a newsroom that prioritizes reader accessibility and covers local government sounded like the kind of work environment I wanted to learn from.
By February, I was in contact with Valerie Osier, RANGE’s Audience & Membership Editor, and by April, I knew I’d be spending my summer as an intern with RANGE. I’m forever thankful that the staff here checks their mailbox.
During my time at RANGE, I’ve gotten to explore journalism as a prospective career by writing my own articles and working with other reporters to produce comprehensive weekly newsletters.
I started out the summer with an article on 2SLGBTQIA+ history in Spokane.
I covered common misconceptions about fentanyl.
I read through agendas for important local meetings and used the information I learned to write sections for the weekly CIVICS newsletter and wrote event blurbs for our Wide RANGE weekly wrap up newsletter.
And I finished up my internship with an accountability piece on Spokane’s animal protection services, SCRAPS.
As I’ve jumped into the journalism scene here in Spokane, I’ve gotten hands-on experience throughout the reporting, interviewing, writing and editing process, which will influence my post-graduation career decisions as I figure out if working as a journalist is a path I want to take.
I had the chance to get out of my comfort zone and ask important questions of community sources, elected officials and fellow journalists.
Some of my favorite moments at RANGE include the opportunity to shadow other reporters and attend public meetings with my colleagues. From city council meetings to public health forums, interning at RANGE has let me both engage in the creation process for news writing and envision a life for myself as a reporter.
Thanks for the opportunity,
Holly (The Intern)
