In search of more Amanda Jordans

If you read The Christian Chronicle closely, you may recognize Amanda Jordan’s name.
Amanda, who will be a senior this fall at Oklahoma Christian University, served as a student intern for the Chronicle this school year. That’s her in the staff photo at the right (front row, far right).
At my request, Amanda shared a bit about what she learned:

Through my internship with The Christian Chronicle this year, I learned how to professionally and effectively conduct journalistic interviews and write journalistic articles. I have written Newsmakers blurbs and calendar events, as well as a feature story about Andrew Konda and couples who adopt from Ethiopia and an editorial about the value of a Christian education. I have enjoyed writing these pieces, not only because I am able to take the angle I want to, but because the Chronicle staff is helpful and encouraging, giving constructive criticism to make my writing better. I have learned that not all stories have to be set up in a narrative-quote-narrative fashion, like the school newspaper The Talon recommends.
I now understand the sometimes high-stress atmosphere of contacting leads for stories, setting up interviews with them and writing the story itself. I was familiarized with the ways in which monthly newspapers are set up, and was able to help edit the stories and see the process they go through from first draft to when they go to press. I have also been exposed to how a newspaper office is efficiently run, opening envelopes, helping with the.gif?Action=thumbnail&Width=460&algorithm=proportionalt money and mailing newspapers abroad.

Chronicle staff members really enjoyed working with Amanda, an honors student majoring in English/writing and minoring in international studies.
Here’s how Virginia Ware described Amanda:

Anything I called on Amanda to help me with this last year, she did with great success and accuracy. You tell Amanda the way you would like to have something taken care of and she takes care of it and has a keen attribute to detail.
Our office went through quite a transition last year with a full-time staff worker out for an extended amount of time, and it was a comfort to me that I knew I could ask for Amanda’s help and it would be done right the first time and with a cheerful attitude.
Amanda is also very thoughtful and caring. I have challenges of my own every day health wise, and she was very compassionate towards my needs, always making me feel comfortable and cared about.
I wish we could have “Amanda Jordans” every year as our intern. No job was too menial to her.

Tamie Ross said:

I really have enjoyed working with Amanda Jordan this year. Her upbeat, get-it-done approach to any assignment endeared her immediately to our small staff. She is extremely motivated and shows incredible maturity and poise in both professional and social situations. I wish she could stay with us longer!

Suffice it to say that we’ll really miss Amanda but wish her the best in her future endeavors. We have no doubt that we’ll be hearing her name again real soon!