Jheri Ogden

Jheri Ogden
(Natchez, Mississippi)

I began looking for an internship in the publishing industry early last summer, when I transferred to the University of Alabama. While conducting this search, I happened upon an old post on the department of journalism’s webpage regarding internship opportunities at Alabama Heritage. Immediately, I found the magazine’s website and made a call to find out if an internship was available for the fall semester. They quickly responded to my inquiry and assured me that though no openings were available for the fall, more opportunities would open up in the spring. However, when I met with her in August, she extended me an offer to work as an intern in the magazine’s copy department for the fall semester. Undeniably, this offer and the internship that followed marked one of the highlights of my first semester at the Capstone.

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As a copy intern, I worked directly under Susan Reynolds, a fellow English major. My two main jobs involved fact-checking articles for historical accuracy and reviewing articles for grammatical correctness. This internship was my first experience in the publishing industry. Thus, these tasks opened my eyes to the various types of work assigned to employees in the copy departments of both small and large publications. On that note, my work at Alabama Heritage provided me with skills that I will certainly be able to use if I decide to pursue a career in publishing. Furthermore, my work greatly enhanced my personal knowledge of the history of Alabama. A native Mississippian, I was born and raised in the town of Natchez, the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River. Antebellum homes, Indian mounds, and sweet magnolias served as the backdrop of my childhood. Therefore, I automatically took great interest in the historical nature of the articles that passed through my hands. From articles on the lost towns of Alabama to pieces on the Civil War to tales from the days of the civil rights movement, the texts I encountered as an intern at Alabama Heritage were extremely interesting, making my work both fun and informative. 

Though the skills and knowledge I obtained while serving as an intern will surely be of great use to me as I continue my education and ultimately step into the world of work, I cannot say enough about the interpersonal connections I formed as a member of the Alabama Heritage team. It was the spirit of enthusiasm displayed by all the employees of Alabama Heritage that made coming to work each week an enjoyable experience; one that I would not hesitate to repeat myself or recommend to others. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jheri is now enrolled at the University of Alabama's Graduate School program.