SUMMER INTERNSHIP SECURED

They say when you join a gang, the only way you can get out is in a body bag. Here's hoping that the same holds true in the newspaper business.

Today I received official word that I have been accepted for an eight-week summer reporting internship at the New Bern Sun Journal, a medium-sized community newspaper in my new hometown in historic New Bern, North Carolina. This summer, I will have the unique opportunity to cover a smattering of local events on a variety of beats, to write long-term project stories, sporting event and local government meeting coverage on deadline, not to mention news briefs and obituaries.

The Freedom Communications-owned Sun Journal circulates 41,955 copies daily and 50,297 on Sunday, according to the parent company's Web site. Freedom owns over 30 community and metropolitan newspapers, the crown jewel of these being the prestigious Orange County Register.