I had an online professional writing class in the spring of 2026, my second semester of freshman year at Minot State University. For this class, I was required to find two field consultants in my major that I could speak to for assistance on projects and assignments. I contacted my hometown newspaper, the Devils Lake Journal, and got in touch with the editor, Mark Robinson. He was willing to help me and offered a summer internship. I interviewed for the position in April and was notified of my acceptance later that month.
What began was a beneficial experience that I learned a lot from.
For much of late May and the entirety of June, the Journal’s major project was putting together a special edition for the United States’ 250th anniversary. This edition highlighted notable events from the nation’s and Devils Lake’s history. My work included sifting through decades of archives that go all the way back to the late nineteenth century, compiling and transcribing multiple articles. I learned quite a lot about my hometown and how it expanded and evolved since its founding as Creel City in 1882. I was also fascinated by how local and national articles were written back then; the language and formatting were looser, and the writing was sometimes speculative and strayed from neutrality. This improved as the twentieth century continued, eventually settling on the AP format we know today.
I was also tasked with covering local meetings, police briefings, and sports events. I would accompany Robinson and co-editor Louise Oleson to these meetings, and I would jot down notes that I would use when writing articles. I attended several Legion baseball games with sports writer Mojo Hill. I got to know the players, many of whom are my friends, and learned more about the intricate rules of baseball. I wrote several articles about the games, took photographs of the action, and conducted postgame interviews with the coaches and players.
Robinson, Oleson, and Hill provided help and assistance to me whenever I needed it. I followed instructions and did what was asked of me and remained productive throughout my workdays. I learned more about the newspaper business and how they operate, which had been a curiosity of mine for some time.
There are definitely some areas where I could improve and learn from. When I cover meetings, a lot of the information is lost on me, even if I write down as many notes as I can. I need to improve my memorization skills or utilize an improved notetaking method. I also believe my writing has some rough edges, and I should do more to familiarize myself with the typical writing styles in journalism. I am also taking a digital photography class this upcoming semester, so my photography skills may also see improvement.
My internship at the Devils Lake Journal was a valuable experience and will be an excellent addition to my resume. Several of the skills utilized here carry over to other creative fields I am studying. I am leaning more towards graphic design and video production for my career, but this job gave me the experience to help me succeed in those fields, and I am grateful for it.
Editor’s note: All of us at the Journal benefitted greatly from Isaac’s time here. He proved to be diligent and hardworking, never shying away from what was asked of him, and always ready to take on various kinds of challenges. He became a great asset to this newspaper, and by extension, his community. His impact will continue to be felt for quite a few months as he compiled snippets of history from the past hundred years of Journal stories that he painstakingly researched in our archives; stories that we will share with our readers beginning in the fall. We wish him the best of luck, as he returns to Minot State University to pursue his studies, and in all his future endeavors.