Jelle completes Pohlad Internship Program with our local newspaper

Grygla High School Sophomore, Trystan Jelle, has completed her 10-week internship with the Eagle. This was the 11th year of the Pohlad Internship Program, which is offered to member newspapers by the Minnesota Newspaper Association. The summer youth employment program is a unique and special experience for high-school aged students as they get a taste for what a career in the communication or journalism field may look like. 

Jelle summed up her summer internship by saying it was a great learning experience and she has gained some really great skills. “I feel a lot more comfortable talking to people around the community and putting myself out there,” she added. Eagle Editor, Kari Sundberg, noticed a big change over Jelle’s 10 weeks with the paper. “When Trystan interviewed for this job last spring, I knew right away that I wanted to bring her on board. Although she was pretty quiet and nervous in the beginning, I knew by the end that she would gain the confidence and skills needed to write some great stories. She has been a huge asset to me this summer and I’ve really enjoyed watching her grow the last few weeks.”

Jelle’s employment allowed her the freedom to choose and write her own weekly stories, which were featured on the front page each week. With minimal guidance, Jelle wrote some great articles this summer that included a feature on the new owners of Motel 89, area youth and their summer jobs, and also an interview with local farm help from South Africa. Some of her other contributions to the paper included a variety of photographs, Yard of the Week, Do It Yourself, What a Joke and a personal column. 

“Getting into the swing of things was difficult at first, but it has been really rewarding,” she says. It was also rewarding to the Eagle; not only does the editor get to work with the intern on interviewing skills and offer some valuable guidance, the newspaper also gains that youth voice, better engaging younger readers in the town. 

Nearing the end of her 10 weeks, Jelle asked if she could stay on as a part-time employee of the Grygla Eagle. She will only be working a few hours each week, covering various sporting and community events, but the extra hours will be beneficial to her and to the paper! “I know what I’m doing now,” Trystan laughed. “The job has gotten easier for me and I really enjoy it. I figured since I live right in town, it’s easier to attend things and take pictures if I’m going to be there anyway! I also won’t mind the extra spending money,” she added.

As mentioned, Trystan will be a sophomore this coming school year. In addition to her part-time employment, she will stay busy with many extra curricular activities that include JV/Varsity Volleyball and the Iron Chargers Robotics team.