Toronto Life: Internship Program

Toronto Life Internship Program

Toronto Life is accepting applications from college students and graduates for a number of internships that run concurrently within the editorial, art and marketing departments of the magazine. Alumni of our internship program have gone on to acclaimed work at publications throughout Canada and the U.S. Please read the following requirements carefully and direct your completed application to the appropriate person.

Go to:

Editorial internships
Art internships
Marketing interships

Editorial Interns

Editorial interns are involved in many aspects of the production of Toronto Life. A number of positions are available.

Applicants must be willing to work on a full-time, unpaid basis for four months. They should have excellent oral and written communication skills and be extremely creative, highly organized and fanatically attentive to detail.

Candidates must complete one of the following applications and send it, along with a cover letter, a resume and, if available, published writing samples, to our chief of research, Veronica Maddocks, Suite 320, 111 Queen St. E., Toronto, M5C 1S2 or vmaddocks@torontolife.com.

GENERAL EDITORIAL INTERNSHIPS (POSITIONS AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2013)

General editorial interns are involved in many aspects of the production of Toronto Life. Working to industry standards, they learn skills that are essential for anyone moving into a career as an editor, writer or researcher. A driving curiosity about this city’s politics, culture, fashion and food are a must for this position. Interns will work closely with the magazine’s various section editors and assist with research and fact-checking, as well as completing specific projects. They are encouraged to generate ideas for the magazine, and will have the opportunity to write for the print and/or online edition of Toronto Life.

Generate four ideas for articles in four different existing sections of the magazine (about 100 words each). Show clearly how and why they would be appropriate for the section (e.g. This City, a front-of-book column, a feature story, a food column, etc.). Your proposals should be clearly focused and should indicate why you think these ideas are right for Toronto Life.
Write a review of the current issue (about 500 words). We know we’re not perfect, so we expect a penetrating analysis.
Fact-check and copy-edit the following passage, identifying any errors of fact, grammar, punctuation and spelling. Provide a list of all sources used. Veronica Maddocks, the ‘daughter’ mentioned in the story, can be contacted for fact-checking purposes at 416-364-3333, ext. 3056.

Josephine Maddocks didn’t believe in the young man’s existence. Her father had only three brothers, not four. It was only when her daughter Veronica showed her the name on the official website and the familiar address 7 Club Street, Birkenhead England, that she accepted the existence of this previously unknown uncle. Her own father had never mentioned an older brother who died in the mud of Flanders in July 1917 years before she was born, and all those with answers are now themselves dead. George Agnew is buried in the CWC cemetery at Etaple. The small fishing port had evolved into a “hospital city” equipped to deal with 22,000 wounded but the medical care was perfunctory and the injuries horrendous. 14,000 French and British Great War soldiers lay in its commonwealth graves.

“I never knew,” Maddocks told her daughter, “Why didn’t anyone tell me? They talked enough about the death of your great-grandfather. He walked off the edge of the dock and drowned when he was going back to his ship in the early hours of new year’s eve. He was probably drunk. So why would they talk about one and not the other”

Veronica knows only know what the small notation says. But next month the two women are catching the Euro Star at King’s Cross station in London.? They will rent a car at Calais Ville and go to visit George’s grave.

FASHION AND LIFESTYLE INTERN (POSITION AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2013)

The fashion and lifestyle intern assists the editor of Toronto Life’s Navigator section but primarily works with the editorial team of Toronto Life’s special interest publications (or SIPs). Toronto Life produces seven SIPs per year: Real Estate, City Home, Cookbook, Eating & Drinking, Neighbourhoods and both a spring and a fall Stylebook. This intern is immersed in the world of Toronto trends, shopping, fashion, home design, real estate, travel, restaurants and food. Duties may include: fact-checking, idea generating, reporting, helping to research and write monthly copy, reviewing stores, restaurants and city services, researching and sourcing products and assisting freelance stylists. Interns will attend story meetings and learn the production process of both the monthly and special interest magazines. Applicants should be eager to report on new establishments and must be detail-oriented enough to help manage a database. An appreciation of Toronto as consumer playground is key.

Generate four ideas for articles in four different existing SIPs (about 100 words each). Show clearly how and why they would be appropriate. Your proposals should be clearly focused and should indicate why you think these ideas are right for Toronto Life.
Write a review of one of the annual special interest publications (about 250 words). We know we’re not perfect, so we expect a penetrating analysis.
Write a 100-word listing for one of your favourite shops, bars, clubs or restaurants in the city. This exercise requires that you visit the location and record any information and observations you think are appropriate for and most useful to Toronto Life readers. Please see the website for examples.
Fact-check and copy-edit the following passage, identifying any errors of fact, grammar, punctuation or spelling. Please provide a list of all sources used. Veronica, the woman who wrote the passage, can be contacted at 416-364-3333, ext. 3056.

In my younger days I spent whatever money I had on traveling in search of cultural inspiration.

I was convinced that my obsession with couture could not be satisfied without a trip to Europe. My first stop was Italy to attend Milan fashion week in the fall of 2001 featuring my favourite designer: Alberto Feretti. From Milan I ventured to London and Paris to shop in the stores of shoe-only designers: Monolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin. Along the way I feasted on each country’s respective delicacies: churros at San Gines in Madrid, margherita pizza at Il Pizzaiolo in Venice and sashimi at Sushi Zanmai in Beijing. Nothing will ever compare to my daily latte and macron combo at the small pavement cafes surrounding the Place del Bastile – both for the taste and the historical significance of sitting in the location of the French Revolution.

I have since retired my suitcase for the daily grind of the 9-5 on Canadian soil, and have come to the pleasant realization that Toronto is a cultural hotbed. A sip of steaming espresso from Balzacs transports me back to Paris while the display windows lining the Toronto Fashion District compare to the high fashion displays on Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive. Every spring I attended Toronto’s annual Fashion week and scour the runway for Canadian designs from power couple, Kim and Joe Mimran, as both of their brands (Joe Fresh and Pink Tarten) deliver the latest trends at budget-friendly prices.

On a weekly basis I indulge my international cravings with a dinner of comfort food at Bannock, and tomorrow I may even walk around the corner to J’adore for a reminiscent dessert.

While Toronto may not have anything resembling the Eiffel tower or the famous Flat Iron Building in New York, it does have enough cultural variety to keep even the most wanderlust content.

ONLINE INTERN (POSITION AVAILABLE JUNE 2013)

The online internship is for applicants looking to explore online publishing. Interns learn web editing and writing techniques, the ins and outs of professional blogging and the role the website plays within the Toronto Life brand. Online interns write multiple posts a day for TorontoLife.com, so applicants should familiarize themselves with the tone, style, humour and concept of the site before proceeding with their applications. This is an internship for a young writer who thrives on a fast pace and tight deadlines.

Write three blog posts, one each for The Dish, The Informer and The Goods. Each submission should be based on a current news item and should not exceed 200 words. Each should be clearly focused on a single story and should reflect the humour, sensibility and voice of the intended blog.
Identify three specific aspects of TorontoLife.com that could be improved, and outline how you’d improve them. We know we’re not perfect, so we expect a penetrating analysis.
List four online sources that you rely on for information. These can be blogs, newspaper sites, social media, RSS feeds—anything, really. In one sentence, describe why that web source is particularly useful or interesting to you.
Fact-check and copy-edit the following passage, identifying any errors of fact, grammar, punctuation or spelling. Please provide a list of all sources used.

Veronica Maddocks can be contacted at 416-364-3333, ext. 3056.

Veronica knows only know what the small notation says. But next month the two women are catching the Euro Star at King’s Cross station in London. They will rent a car at Calais Ville and go to visit George’s grave.

FOOD AND DRINK INTERN (POSITION AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2013)

Toronto Life’s food coverage is divided among three areas: 1) The Food and Drink section in the monthly magazine, which includes columns and service packages 2) The Dish, our restaurant news and gossip blog 3) Restaurant reviews that run in the magazine and online. The food and drink intern will assist the editors of all three areas. He or she should have interest in dining and entertaining trends, restaurant news and the city’s nightlife. Duties may include: fact-checking, idea generating, writing and reporting for The Dish, tracking menu trends and sourcing products and helping to manage a database. Interns will attend story meetings and learn the production process of the monthly magazine.

Generate one idea for Flavour of the Month, our trend-focused spread in the monthly magazine (50 words). Please include a list of seven–nine dishes/items that may run on the spread.
Generate one idea for The Critic, our monthly dining column (100 words). Your proposals should be clearly focused and indicate why you think these ideas are right for Toronto Life.
Identify three specific aspects of Toronto Life’s food coverage that could be improved, and outline how you’d improve them (100 words each). We know we’re not perfect, so we expect a penetrating analysis.
Write one blog post for The Dish based on a current news item. It should be focused on a single story and reflect the humour, sensibility and voice of The Dish (200 words).
Fact-check and copy-edit the following passage, identifying any errors of fact, grammar, punctuation or spelling. Please provide a list of all sources used. Veronica, the woman who wrote the passage, can be contacted at 416-364-3333, ext. 3056

In my younger days I spent whatever money I had on traveling in search of cultural inspiration.

On a weekly basis I indulge my international cravings with a dinner of comfort food at Bannock, and tomorrow I may even walk around the corner to J’adore for a reminiscent dessert.

While Toronto may not have anything resembling the Eiffel tower or the famous Flat Iron Building in New York, it does have enough cultural variety to keep even the most wanderlust content.

Art Interns

PHOTO INTERN (POSITION AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2013)
The photo intern assists the photo editor of the monthly magazine and helps out with various tasks in the art department. The photo intern is a passionate and resourceful person who demonstrates familiarity with the Toronto photography community and an ambition to immerse themselves in magazine production and editorial photography in Toronto and beyond. Primary responsibilities include arranging logistics for photo shoots, conducting photo shoots, liaising with subjects’ PR representatives and managers, trafficking product to and from photo shoots, sourcing photographs for licensing and generating creative ideas for assignments. The photo intern will get an intimate understanding of the complete process of magazine production, attend story meetings and work directly with staff editors and writers as well as freelance contributors. They will build valuable relationships not only at the magazine but also in other spheres pertaining to the industry and will get to experience Toronto from a new perspective. Experience with Excel, Adobe InDesign and Photoshop is required.

Interested candidates should submit a resume, a cover letter and any relevant portfolio material (websites, PDFs, jpeg attachments) to the photo editor, Daniel Neuhaus, at dneuhaus@torontolife.com. Only applicants considered for an interview will receive a response.

Marketing Internship Opportunities

Toronto Life offers three- or four-month unpaid internships in several departments: marketing and events, design and sales. Interns work Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Although the bulk of the work is administrative, interns gain valuable career experience in return for their efforts. A keen interest in magazines is essential. All interns should be detail-oriented and organized, with strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to juggle multiple demands and meet deadlines. Experience dealing with public relations professionals and a good phone manner are assets.

MARKETING INTERNSHIP (TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY)

Candidates who are looking for experience in the world of marketing and can handle a fast-paced environment should consider this position. The role supports Toronto Life magazine, encompassing a variety of areas, including brand marketing, events and sponsorships, creative advertising solutions, contests and marketing promotions. High energy and polished written and verbal communications skills are a must, as is an eye for detail and the ability to manage multiple projects.

If you are interested in applying for a marketing internship, please send your resume and completed assignment to internships@torontolife.com and clearly indicate in the subject line the position for which you are applying. In addition, please include a cover letter explaining why you’re interested in an internship with Toronto Life magazine, what you hope to gain from it and your desired start date. Candidates will NOT be simultaneously considered for multiple departments; please apply only for a single internship (you may indicate additional preferences in your cover letter).

Marketing Internship Application Assignment

1. Toronto Life magazine is celebrating the launch of the annual Stylebook issue. Write a one-page marketing strategy to promote the issue, with the core objective of building awareness of and driving newsstand sales for Toronto Life Stylebook.

2. Select your favourite brand and create an integrated advertising proposal in partnership with Toronto Life (budget: $50,000)

MARKETING DESIGN INTERNSHIP (POSITION AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY)

Candidates who have a creative eye and design skill set should consider this position. This internship entails assisting the marketing department in creating collaterals, presentations, in-house promotions and mock-ups. Applicants must be fluent in the following programs: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and PowerPoint.

Marketing Design Internship Application Assignment

1. Provide 3-5 pieces from your portfolio.

SALES INTERNSHIP (POSITION AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY)

Candidates for the sales internship should have a strong interest in sales and the magazine industry. Much of the work involves administrative duties to help the sales team with customer relationship management, filing and updating the magazine area with the latest sales tools. There may also be an opportunity to use MSG, our ad order entry system. Sales interns gain valuable exposure to the magazine ad sales process, including the forecasting and pipeline development process.

Sales Internship Assignment

Select your favourite retail partner and explain in 200 words why they should advertise in Toronto Life magazine.