Senior gets job at Parenting Magazine

While many of us are gearing up for summer — making plans for jobs, vacations and long lazy days by the pool — graduating senior Lisa Freedman is preparing to start her career. After walking across the stage in May for her diploma in Media Arts and Design, Freedman will be heading off to New York City for a job with Parenting Magazine.

After applying for an internship program sponsored by the American Society of Magazine Editors, Freedman joined 30 other interns in choosing their future positions for the summer of 2004. Interns chose their top five internship placements from a list of magazines and job descriptions, the magazines choose their top five intern choices and interns then are assigned to a magazine.

"The ASME program was amazing for anyone interested in magazines," Freedman said. "Every Thursday they have lunches at different magazines all over New York City and you get to meet so many people and contacts that are willing to meet you later to talk." Freedman said she chose Parenting Magazine based on the job description of a more hands-on and versatile position.

As an intern at Parenting Magazine, Freedman attended press conferences and reported important information back to editors, met cast members from "Survivor" and the first season of "The Apprentice" and worked on the "Toy of the Year Awards," organizing mom-testers — women who judge which children’s toys are best — and toys with public relations companies. She even wrote several articles that were published in the magazine with her byline.

After returning to JMU last fall, Freedman has continued writing articles for Parenting Magazine and gets paid for her work. Freedman was offered her upcoming position as shopping guide assistant before the magazine even posted the listing because they knew she was searching for a job. As a shopping guide assistant, Freedman will be responsible for organizing testers and products, as well as writing articles. Her work will be published in the October shopping issue of the magazine. "It’s a lot of work but also a lot of writing," she said. "The balance should be really exciting."

Though she planned on moving to New York regardless of whether she had a job, Freedman said it definitely is a bonus to know she will have a secure job in the city — especially one with which she has had experience and long-standing interest. "Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to [work with] magazines," Freedman said. "At JMU I got involved with everything I could that was magazine-related. I love New York, I love the magazine industry up there, and I have a lot of friends there that I can’t wait to see again."

Above all, Freedman credits her time at JMU for contributing much to her success with her internship and future position at Parenting Magazine. "JMU was a great place to get all the experience I could," Freedman said. "There are a lot of opportunities and a lot of people who are willing to help. I owe my success to the experiences I’ve had here."