I have worked the last 16 weeks as one of four unpaid interns at Sacramento Press. I started with no experience in journalism and felt completely overwhelmed with my new responsibilities, which were in addition to taking five classes at Sacramento State University. Now, nearly four months later, I leave this position with an appreciation for the writing skills I have developed and a deeper understanding of journalism.

Sacramento Press is not traditional journalistic reporting. As you know this is a community-contributed news site. The reporting, with the exception of a very small group of staff and interns, is done by members of the community, which is the reason Sacramento Press stands out against the mainstream media.

When I began the internship on January 8, there were 117 people signed up to write for the site. As of April 22 there are 327 writers and over 1100 total users signed up on the site. It has been exciting to witness the growth of community-reported news.

The ability to comment on posted articles is my favorite aspect of the website. It opens possibilities for discussion and debate, and I'm happy to see a wide range of personalities and beliefs interacting through these comments.

I have thoroughly appreciated the freedom given by Sacramento Press to write about issues that concern or interest me. My articles have covered a wide range of topics, most of which I am very passionate about. My personal favorites, if you would like to check them out, are Tent City, Trivia Night, Sacramento's Catch Phrase, and the Outdoor Activities thread.

As an interesting side-note, my email address is the second most Googled item containing the words "Sacramento Press." Thanks to whoever has been tracking me down! Although the office seems to think I should be slightly concerned that I have a stalker.

All in all I had a great time at the Sacramento Press. The office, if you haven't popped in or seen it at one of the writing workshops, is a relaxing and inviting space in which to work. The staff is a fun group of people and I enjoyed the many conversations I've shared with everyone. I'm sad that it's over, but ready to move forward.

I will continue to be around, both at the office and as a contributing writer. I will also be working with the marketing department helping to spread the word about Sacramento Press and expand our portfolio of readers and writers.