Week three had me back in my cubicle, mostly editing and battling with Drupal, the software platform Bonnier uses for their online content. I am usually quite good with technology, and I caught on pretty quickly, but glitches in the system tested my patience a bit… I ended up spending the entire day on a post that I thought would take me two hours. But it turned out looking great, and I learned a lot. Shout out to Alex Bean for the awesome crash course in HTML and CS5!

First priority all week were the “Epsons,” which are basically the final copies we ship to print. They need to be perfect. Scuba Diving’s Oct/Nov issue was shipped to print on Wednesday, and with Mary Frances gone and Patricia in the sales meetings all week, the pace was fast and furious.

ScubaLab’s Sept./Oct. Gear guide was all about dive computers. We write edits on sticky notes so the quality printing isn’t messed up.

I loved it.

I really felt a part of the team—after all, it really does take a team to get the content from word documents à fact-checking à edit à copy edit à design à proof  à Epson à print. Everyone plays a key role, even the interns. Every extra set of eyes helps.

I also had my first encounter with rewriting. Sometimes the facts you find out while writing and researching change the arc of the story—I needed to focus on a different, more relevant and worthwhile angle on a marine conservation, and I had to completely rewrite it.

It is true that constructive criticism makes you better. One of the most valuable opportunities this internship has given me so far—besides the obviously phenomenal experience as a whole—is having my writing edited. Not graded, but edited.

We are always learning, always changing, and we always have the opportunity to improve. Being around better writers has pushed me to hold myself to their standards and to try to get better at my craft.

There is nothing better than coming home after a busy day at your internship and realizing that you wouldn’t rather be doing anything else.

Next up: My first press trip—Adventuring in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea!

After a fun-filled few days at Universal Studios, it was finally time to travel to Winter Park and begin what would prove to be an amazing adventure, chock-full of first-time experiences, friendly faces, and my very own cubicle.

I had been counting down the days from when George Wozencraft first notified me that I had, incredibly, been chosen for this prestigious internship (cue the composed phone call, followed by excited squeals and several emotional calls to my parents). The internship of my dreams was within reach—all I had to do was reach out and grab it.

After moving everything into Bonnier Corporation’s ultra-modern company loft (in the rain, might I add: the inevitable afternoon rain is one thing this Tennessee girl still has not gotten used to), walking distance to their office in Winter Park Village, I finally took a breath.  Here I was, 20 years old, almost 700 miles from home, and about to walk into one of the largest special interest publishing groups in the country. I must confess… I was a tad nervous.

Little did I know that my nervousness Sunday night would be all for naught—as soon as I met Patricia Wuest, editor-in-chief for both Scuba Diving and Sport Diver magazines, I felt instantly at ease.

After all, most of the people in the dive publishing group at Bonnier are divers. One thing I’ve learned in my five years of diving is that divers are pretty awesome people; this group did not disappoint!

As Patricia gave me the grand tour, I shook many hands and met lots of smiling faces; unfamiliar to me then, these people would come to play huge parts in my experience here at Bonnier Corp.

My first few days were spent familiarizing myself with the magazines’ layouts, getting my logins for the numerous online platforms Bonnier uses, and learning the lay of the land (er, ocean?).

I’m official! My first cubicle.

I dove in quickly, embracing my busy schedule—I attended three meetings the first day alone, learning about budget and collaborating on the creative content (Note to self: bring a sweater or parka when meeting in Zone 1).  I soon learned to swear by Gmail’s calendar; without the little ding! alerting me of a meeting in 5 minutes, I probably would’ve been known as the Late Intern by the end of the first day. (Glad I escaped that stereotype…)

I was continually amazed by the efficiency in the office, much of it coordinated by the uber-organized Ashley Annin—once an intern, and now the Managing Editor—she, along with Alex Bean, Digital Editor, and Tara Bradley, Assistant Editor, provided many of my “Intern Training” sessions—all neatly recorded on my Google Calendar, of course.

I was fact-checking and posting to Sport and Scuba Diver’s website before I knew it.  There is nothing like the rush you get when you realize that YOU are responsible for the article so many divers read and share.  I soon found it to be addicting.

I even finished my first original article, written for the Briefs section of the October 2014 print edition of Sport Diver. Interviewing the Executive Director of the Turtle Island Restoration Network’s Cocos Islands project and being able to say I work for Sport Diver was absolutely surreal and humbling. Writing about endangered sea turtles and the work these scientists have done towards their protection was an honor, and I can’t wait for it to come out in print so many other divers find out about what they can do to help our beautiful ocean and the animals in it.

I truly saw every side of publishing this first week, cumulating in being a stand-in model for Sport Diver’s Gear Guide on Thursday.  Working with the amazing Elizabeth Fleener, Chelsea Pomales, and John the photographer/lighting wizard was so memorable. I got to see where the magic happens—where those gear guides that I have so thoroughly pored over for years were shot, how they are put onto the layout, and the creative minds behind it.

The lighting set-up for Sport Diver’s Gear Guide

Me (eeek!) and photographer John testing the lighting and gear for the gear guide.

Okay, this is getting long. I promise to wrap it up, but before I go, I want to thank everyone at OWUSS and the Bonnier Dive Group that has made my first week phenomenal.

I look forward to the next week of my adventure.

Until then,

Schyler Cox

The beginning of my second week started with meetings. Lots and lots of meetings. The dive group—the interns and all of the editors and art directors and photo editors—made the journey through the humid Winter Park Village jungle to the frigid arctic of Bonnier’s Zone 5, where we holed up and took over their conference room. And when I say took over, I mean we took over. Patricia brought in muffins and bagels and cookies, and some kind soul from the office bought us cupcakes. (Ashley made the mistake of buying a massive tub of goldfish that we finished that day. It was actually kind of scary…)

We even made frequent coffee runs to their kitchens. (Speaking of coffee, I believe I’ve become addicted.)

It was amazing to see all those creative minds at work as we pored over the neatly organized issue plans for 2015 and pitches from contributing writers.

We were planning both Sport Diver and Scuba Diving’s entire 2015 year: gear, trips, magazine plans, briefs, articles, who would write what and go where. I found myself thinking over and over again: So this is how it works.

It wasn’t as formal as I had thought it would be, but I liked the give and take and honest collaboration. If you had an idea to share or an opinion, you put it out there and contributed, and it was considered.

I soon learned that everything in the publishing world is deliberate. From strategically placing the shark-themed cover and feature right before Shark Week to putting the island hopping emphasis in spring to allow time for summer trip planning, everything was in a certain spot for a reason.

Roger Roy, director of ScubaLab, joined us on Wednesday to plan 2015’s gear for both magazines. The tough part of having two scuba diving related magazines is planning—both magazines can’t feature the same gear relatively close to one another. Art director extraordinaire Elizabeth Fleener was also heavily involved in this conversation, as the aesthetic quality of the magazine comes into play here. I had never really given much thought to the appeal of dive gear, but as she pointed out, it’s really hard to make drysuits and wetsuits look visually appealing. Black, grey, and more black. (I would soon be able to witness this firsthand in the photo studio, but I’m getting ahead of myself!)

I was taken away to paradise—crystal clear waters, palm trees, and exotic fish—as next year’s travel plans were put on the table.

Philippines, Australia, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, South Africa, California… the list went on. And I nearly swooned when the editors began almost calling “dibs” on the trips and saying where they haven’t been and what is on their “dive bucket list.”

I whispered to Tara Bradley, senior editor for Sport Diver, “You mean… you get PAID to go on these trips?” It was a newbie question, sure. But I couldn’t believe it. I dreamed of going on these exotic trips, and they were able to go AND get professional photography AND write about it. All as a part of their job.

Now that is the life.

Last, but not least (I promise I’m wrapping it up), was Thursday’s photoshoot. Sounds so glamorous.

Although it wasn’t quite glamorous in the way I imagine a fashion shoot would be, I had a lot of fun working with Chelsea, Elizabeth, John, and Roger down in the photo studio. I’m a diver, so wearing scuba gear is natural, but the photographer in me loved being able to see the design and artistic aspect. Only my torso is going to be famous, but hey, better than nothing!

I felt like a kid in a candy shop, surrounded by tons of brand new scuba gear. The scuba geek in me came out and I talked to Roger about all the new dive computers for at least 15 minutes before I realized I should actually put the gear on to get started.

All in all, an amazing week. Who knew it could get better?