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Dr.
Alan S. Chartock |
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Publisher Alan S. Chartock is far more than the chief executive officer of The Legislative Gazette. He is its founder and as the newspaper passes its first quarter century, he is its primary cheerleader and inspiration. Initially, Chartock, who answers to professor or doctor or doc - or just plain Alan to friends - viewed it as an internship project that would provide political insights and journalistic training for the students at the State University at New Paltz, where he was a political science professor. "I get my best ideas when I’m in the shower," he smiles, "and one morning I was thinking about how much my political science students were getting from legislative internships. Then I got to thinking about how at times there was a communication vacuum in the Legislature. That’s when I began thinking about a newspaper solely for and about state government." Chartock took his idea to Dr. Gerald Benjamin, chair of the department, and to Dr. Arthur Cash, chair of the English Department which had a program for students interested in journalism. "They both liked the idea, so then I went to the administration," Chartock recalls. While he got encouragement, he didn’t get much money. "As I recall, it was a commitment to pay for printing the paper. Everything else we had to provide for ourselves." When that first batch of students arrived in Albany in January of 1978, then Senate Minority Leader Manfred Ohrenstein found them temporary office space on the ninth floor of the Legislative Office Building. Within weeks the students had their first real office, an eight-foot-by-ten-foot office, with a window, within the offices of the State University Research Foundation on Lark Street. But there was more. Some in the Legislature decided they hadn’t had a newspaper and they didn’t want one. The state comptroller warned the college that any printing bills for the yet-to-be-published newspaper would be carefully scrutinized. Then the students went on the attack - with the help of some sympathetic journalists. Students made members of the Legislative Correspondents Association aware of efforts to kill the journalism project before the first newspaper was published. The journalists’ queries of the comptroller and some state lawmakers did the trick. And within weeks the first edition of The Legislative Gazette went to press. "Those were trying times," recalls Chartock, "but the students really were committed. They even planned fundraisers the first few years so we could buy film and pay to have it developed. We literally didn’t have any money, but we did have a lot of friends eager to see the project succeed." First the Research Foundation found office space for the fledgling program. Then the University at Albany provided office space at its downtown campus. Finally, the state Office of General Services came up with space in the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, across the street from the Capitol. Along the way, of course, Chartock had an idea that since the paper was well read, it ought to solicit advertising. "I know I was a little surprised at how well we did in getting advertising, but I was even more surprised by the reaction from our readers. It put a professional stamp on the project. People reasoned that if advertisers were willing to spend money, it must be good. "In fact," says Chartock, "the internship has evolved so well that most readers aren’t even aware that it’s an internship project and our reporters are college students. That’s a tribute to our editors, Mason Smith who was editor the first year, and Glenn Doty, who had returned to college to complete his bachelor’s degree and served as news editor that first year. We convinced Glenn to stay on, and he got his master’s degree at New York University while overseeing the day-to-day operation." Chartock, now a professor of political communication at the University at Albany, continues as publisher and as an adjunct professor of political science at New Paltz. He offers a weekly seminar on state government during the fall and spring semesters and continues to marvel at how much students learn about government and politics. "Most come to Albany prepared to hate the political side, but mostly it’s because they realize they know so little about how government and politics work. They’re frightened at the outset but by the time the semester is over, they realize how much they’ve learned and they recognize how much they’ve matured. It’s what makes it all worthwhile." Frequently Asked Questions about Internships How
will an internship at the Legislative Gazette benefit me?
How will an internship at SUNY’s Legislative Gazette benefit me? A
semester internship at The Legislative Gazette prepares you to work for
a daily newspaper or in other meaningful communication positions
straight from college. How? You’ll be reporting on the bustling,
influential political arena of the third largest state’s capital, in
Albany, New York. You’ll attend press conferences and ask the governor
of New York questions. You’ll work alongside reporters from the New
York Times and NBC. You’ll have phone calls returned from powerful
policymakers. And your reporting will provide facts that will help these
policymakers shape legislation. Consequently, your resume and portfolio
of news clips will stand out in a crowd of job applicants. You can
expect to gain extensive newsgathering and news writing experience.
After all, you and your fellow interns are The Gazette’s staff
reporters. You’ll probe for answers at press briefings, and report on
the machinations of state Senate & Assembly Committees and state
regulatory agencies. You’ll conduct interviews, unearth leads, attend
relevant meetings, and write the stories. From tax laws to environmental
issues, from health policies to farm supports, you will have the
opportunity to report on the prevailing, often controversial, issues
that face large states. You will witness government in action. What are the components of the Internship? We
won’t deceive you. This may be the most challenging semester of your
academic career to date. You’ll be required to balance a full
workweek, complete a series of academic tasks, and live independently in
Albany. But, you’ll exit the program with tangible tools: sharp
reporting & writing skills, and an acute, analytical mind. You’ll
have a better understanding of journalism, state politics, and yourself. There are two terms at The Gazette. The fall semester starts the Monday before Labor Day, and ends the third week in December. The spring semester runs for six months in order to cover the legislature while they are in house. It starts the first Monday in January and runs through June 30. There is no added tuition fee or academic workload for students in the spring term. The extended term will allow for added training in reporting and writing. The fall semester garners a stipend of $1,600, the spring semester, $2,500.
What is the admissions process? SUNY students from other campuses pay tuition to their own campuses, but must fill out an application to be considered for the internship. Other New York students and out-of-state students should contact Joseph A. Brill at (518)473-6862. Successful completion of the internship program earns 15 credits. The program also offers a financial stipend. Dr.
Alan S. Chartock, SUNY
Professor of Political Science
& Communication, and Executive Publisher and Project Director
of The Legislative Gazette. When and how can I qualify for the program? To qualify for an internship at The Legislative Gazette, a student must have reached one’s junior year and have at least a C plus average (2.5 grade point average). Courses that are good preparation for a Gazette internship include: an advanced newswriting course; reporting on public affairs and government; feature or human interest writing; press & government or, media & politics. What is living in Albany like? Albany offers affordable housing, cultural attractions, entertainment events, great shopping facilities, public transportation, and is only 2?hours north of New York City. What are Gazette alumni doing today? Alumni have become reporters, editors, and columnists at medium and large metro daily newspapers and national newsmagazines. Some alumni work for trade, business, and other special interest publications. Others have moved into public relations with private firms, or work in press relations for legislators or government agencies. New York Post Columnist Andrea Peyser is an alumnus, as is Pulitzer Prize winner Alex Storozynski, a member of the editorial board at the New York Daily News. What do Gazette alumni have to say about the political science component of the internship? Some
of the verbatim student comments on the end-of-semester course
evaluation forms have included: For more information, e-mail Joseph A. Brill or call (518)473-6862 |
Internship Application
Please also email or mail the following material with your application form:
Statement of interest: This essay should be used to indicate why you would like to participate in our internship program. The essay should not exceed 250 words.
References: Please include two references from academic sources.
Writing samples: Pleas include five writing samples that demonstrate your best work. These can be previously published articles or unpublished academic projects.
Transcripts: Please include a set of official transcripts from every institution you have attended in the last five years.
Email applications to: Joseph A. Brill
Mail applications to:
Joseph A. Brill
Assistant Editor and Recruiter
The Legislative Gazette
Empire State Plaza
Concourse Room 106
Albany, NY, 12224
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