Upon meeting Alan Finder to begin my externship at The New York Times, I could not have asked for a better person to act as the portal between the Times’ massive amounts of talent and information and myself.
I had the opportunity to speak with writers from the art, sports, and investigative departments. Specifically, I spent time with a seasoned writer in the art department who not only works with the newspaper, but also teaches writing courses at a prestigious college. This writer was able to give me advice as to how I should pursue my ultimate goal of becoming an art critic through refining my ability to write critically.
In spending close time with Alan Finder, I learned a great deal about the specifics of a news story in progress. He allowed me to look through the inside information used to piece together an article. This included going over notes he had taken, interviews he had conducted, and research material he had collected. I also experienced first-hand phone interviews and observed the interaction between reporter and interviewee.
My career ambition of becoming an established art critic and writer was bolstered by the opportunity to spend time with Alan Finder. It was inspirational and intimidating to observe and participate in the daily workings of The New York Times, but it left me with an immense amount of information to help me become a successful graduate of Lafayette.
