What I’ve Gained from Le Monde (And Why You Should Write for It Too)

By Ashley Hagan

After two semesters as Editor-In-Chief Le Monde, one of my main takeaways has been that it is hard work to encourage people to write 500 words instead of simply sitting in a room for an hour for a Berglund seminar. (That, and arranging a meeting that fits everyone’s schedule is a Herculean task, which is beside the point.) Even so, many students have in fact written fascinating articles in past semesters. I, for one, have been a writer for the past two and a half years, ever since I was a freshman.

So why should you write for Le Monde?

It Builds Your Resume
For students who need to get bylines to pursue a career in a writing-related field, getting published in college is hard. Many internships want published writing samples when you apply, making it difficult for unpublished college students to get chosen. Writing for Le Monde is a good way to start, as there is no experiential barrier.

My own Le Monde articles earned me an internship at Study Breaks Magazine, where I spent sixteen weeks writing and peer reviewing articles weekly. It was a wonderful opportunity to build bylines and refine the craft of pop culture journalism. I learned about structuring sentences and articles, about linking to sources, and about appealing to a specific audience. None of this would have been possible had I not been able to link to my Le Monde articles as writing samples.

Building experience does not stop at just writing for Le Monde either. Editing positions often require prior experience, with very few ways to get started without it. Becoming an editor for Le Monde is one such way to gain experience to carry forward later on.

It Lets You Share Your Thoughts with Everyone Else

Writing for Le Monde comes with a built-in Honors College audience. For people like me, who love having people read their work, Le Monde is a natural platform for putting thoughts into the world and meeting an Honors College engagement requirement while doing so. It is also a great way to discuss one’s identity and culture, from all-female classes to sahelp and an earthquake in Turkey.

It Fits Your Schedule

For most of my time at VCU, I’ve held down a part-time job, working from eight to five two days a week. Classes take up most of the rest of my time, limiting my ability to attend even the events I’m most interested in. Plus, I live off-campus. Who wants to drive thirty minutes both ways to a Wind Down Wednesday?

Instead of rearranging your schedule to fit in events, do what I did—write an article. Pick a topic you feel passionately about and want to share with others, and do it. Whether late at night in your pajamas or throughout the day between classes, writing is infinitely more accessible than events for many people and can be done on a lot more topics.

Conclusion

No matter why you choose to write for Le Monde, your articles become a part of the VCU Honors community for all who choose to read them. They contain diverse perspectives, funny stories, and a variety of personalities. For me, writing for Le Monde opened new doors to internships—and to becoming Editor-in-Chief of the magazine.