First time’s a charm: What I learned as the first intern for ¡Presente! Media

BY LAURA ANAYA-MORGA ON MAY 17, 2021

Amidst the pandemic, Laura Anaya-Morga was Presente Media's very first intern. (Courtesy of Laura Anaya-Morga)

Before joining ¡Presente! Media as an intern last fall, it is safe to say that I felt lost as a senior in college, unsure of what my next step would be to start my journalism career. I had joined the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) just a few months prior and I was eager to immerse myself in the art of storytelling but I did not know how. I felt stuck, that is until I met the three journalists behind ¡Presente! Media — Kristal, Gabriela and Melissa. 

We were connected through NAHJ and I was instantly intrigued to join a team that advocated for the values of ¡Presente!, one that centers the perspectives and stories of those from underrepresented backgrounds. Finding ¡Presente! was like finding the door that I falsely believed had been closed for so long. I joined the team eager to cover stories about race, gender, sexuality, equality and education. 

Community Refrigerators in Philadelphia

After losing their father to COVID-19, sisters Sonam (right) and Sonia (left) Parikh were inspired by his legacy to open The People's Fridge. (Becca Haydu for Present! Media)

Social media was a big part of finding volunteers for this initiative, resulting in communities working together to help each other. (Becca Haydu for Present! Media)

Shut Down Berks Coalition

Despite challenges caused by the pandemic the Shut Down Berks Coalition continued to advocate for the immediate release of multiple families. (Courtesy of the Shut Down Berks Coalition)

Two Haitian families, 28 migrant children, and a global pandemic fueled this collective fight to close down the Berks County Family Detention Center. (Courtesy of the Shut Down Berks Coalition)

Holding a remote internship on the East coast while I was in California was difficult but not impossible. I would have loved to have immersed myself into Philadelphia because of its rich history and culture, but I was equally as enamoured by its people through the Zoom screen. 

In the five months I have spent at ¡Presente!, I have spoken to many incredible community members that have inspired me through their passion and dedication for their work. In the case of organizations like The People’s Fridge, I was in awe of the strength and resilience of Sonia and Sonam Parikh, two sisters who, after losing their father to COVID-19, wanted to honor his life by doing what he loved most — helping people. For Sonya Arora of South Philly Fridges, losing her job during the pandemic helped her to realize the need of the community. I felt honored to cover powerful mutual aid organizations who only want to see their communities change for the better.

I also spent some time covering the Shut Down Berks Coalition who taught me that there is strength in numbers. Folks from various organizations across the city and region were connected through the common goal of freeing families held in immigrant detention centers across the country. Speaking to organizers and activists, the passion they each had for their work was contagious and it made me want to be a better writer in order to tell their story with an equal amount of passion.covering the Shut Down Berks Coalition

Through ¡Presente! I was given the opportunity to pitch stories that were meaningful to me, but was also assigned stories that were important to the community. As a team we explored various aspects of the city’s culture such as activism, music and film. I was also able to brush up on my video editing skills using Final Cut and Adobe Premiere Pro and was given helpful guidance from the team. The pace of the internship was quick but Kristal, Gabriela and Melissa were always available to provide necessary feedback that was essential to my growth as an intern. The skills I learned at ¡Presente! are skills that I know I will carry throughout my journalism career.

At ¡Presente! I felt welcomed. Kristal, Gabriela and Melissa encouraged me and uplifted me. They provided incredible mentorship when I needed it the most and I feel so lucky to have been able to help them develop something so powerful, a news organization that focuses on underrepresented voices. I hope to continue what I have learned at ¡Presente! into my professional career and to watch ¡Presente! continue to grow and inspire others, just like they have inspired me.

From the ¡Presente! Media editorial board: After completing her internship with ¡Presente!, Laura was hired as a Metro Intern at the Los Angeles Times. ¡Felicidades!