Overview

A friend from high school e-mailed you yesterday to ask if you’d be a part of a new project she’s involved with. She’s landed an internship at a small newsmagazine published in your hometown. It’s a standard “this is our community” type of publication that includes news about current events, stories about community members and organizations, and more. Like many small magazines, it’s been struggling to cope with the migration of readers from print to the web. Market research has told the publication that a core group of dedicated readers like to read in print, but also that many readers would prefer online material. So the magazine has begun a small website, actually more of a weblog, that will hold a mix of stories repurposed from print as well as contributions from people in the community.

This is where you come in: Your friend wants you to provide some content for the online publication. She’s interested in getting community members like you to write reviews of local restaurants. The magazine can provide a small amount of financial compensation, but most of your motivation is to help out your friend. You’re the first person she’s asked, so you get to pick the restaurant yourself. The only restriction she has is that the magazine doesn’t want reviews of national chain restaurants. (Chain restaurants pride themselves on consistency; unless something is seriously wrong, one Big Mac is like any other Big Mac.)

The review needs to be around 1,500 words and include at least three pictures. You can decide what pictures to take — dishes served at the restaurant or the restaurant itself (inside or outside).

Her excitement about the project is infectious; even though your schedule is pretty busy, you agree to write something.