Job is a Daily Parade for Converted Print Major
W
hen she snagged a
job as an Editorial
Assistant at The
Knot -- a leading wedding
magazine – 2006 Print
Journalism graduate Erin Hill
never thought she’d stray from
her print roots.
That is, until the New
York-based publication had
an opening in its online staff
within her first month. Hill
was asked to step in to fill the
sudden gap.
“I was supposed to fill in
temporarily,” Hill said. “But
that turned into full-time and I
remember soon after thinking,
‘I’ll never go back to print
again.’”
Although she was in the print
concentration, Hill said the
diverse media curriculum she
was exposed to in SMAD was
a major factor in her ability
to take on the emergency
assignment.
“I used everything from
Snared by the Web: After filling in as an online editor, print major Erin Hill says she’d never go back.
every single class I took,
from basic Web knowledge to
interviewing skills,” Hill said. Hill worked on The Knot’s Web site, thenest.com, for a
At JMU, Hill was a staff writer for Curio magazine and year and a half. She then was able to use her experience as a
landed an internship at The Knot the summer before her senior springboard to a job with Parade magazine.
year. Hired in February 2008, Hill currently works at Parade as
“I really loved New York and they let me freelance my its Associate Online Editor for the Celebrities section of Parade.
senior year,” Hill said. com.
Depending on the day, Hill could be editing celebrity
interviews, writing, working on the Web or touching up
photos in Photoshop.
“I used everything from every class I
took, from basic Web knowledge to
interviewing skills.”
“It’s a fun and creative industry to work in,” Hill said.
“There’s a lot of freedom in the Web.”
She urges SMAD undergrads – particularly her fellow
print majors – to learn a variety of media skills.
“No matter what the industry, a Web background is very
crucial,” Hill said. “Take advantage of the program while
you’re in it.”

Daily skills test: Hill’s responsibilities for Parade.com include celeb-
— Caroline Blanzaco
rity interviews and using her hands-on Web skills.
SMADAbout You 18
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