Meet Francisco, Our Marketing and Communications Intern
A good intern brings more than an extra set of hands. The right person brings fresh questions, close attention, strong instincts, and the kind of curiosity that makes the whole team sharper.
That is why we are excited to welcome Francisco Aguirre-Ghiso, our new Marketing and Communications Intern. Francisco is a University of Massachusetts, Amherst junior, majoring in journalism and English, and he also serves as assistant arts editor at The Daily Collegian, the student newspaper. That mix says a lot before the work even begins. It points to someone who understands deadlines, cares about language, pays attention to culture, and knows how to shape a story so readers want to keep going.
Internships are often described as learning opportunities, which they are. But they are also exchanges. Francisco will get a closer look at how a book fair is produced and learn from the expertise of rare booksellers, book artists, publishers and authors. We will get the benefit of his perspective as a student journalist, editor, reader, and writer. He's a driven and curious person. His journalistic background makes him a a strong communicator, team player, and researcher, and his literary background has given him both the writing skills and passion necessary to really care about his work.
That blend of journalism and English is especially useful. Journalism pushes toward clarity and evidence. English pushes toward depth and style. Together, they help a writer produce work that is both useful and engaging. Francisco’s academic path suggests comfort with both the quick turn and the careful revision. Those are different muscles. Newsroom work builds the ability to move, decide, and publish. Literary study builds the ability to pause, question, and refine. Strong communication needs both.
At The Collegian, Francisco has written music & film reviews and interviewed booksellers for a piece on the state of independent bookselling in the Connecticut River Valley. He enjoys reading fiction, everything from classics to contemporary award winners, especially American writers and literature. Francisco's classes this this semester include advanced poetry and multi-media journalism.
Asked who in the world, living or dead, he'd like to interview, Francisco says he'd like to talk with Che Guevara, the Argentine Marxist revolutionary, author, guerilla leader, diplomat, politician, and military theorist. "He's one of the most fascinating historical characters," Francisco said. In the literary rhelm, Toni Morrison tops his list. "She's one of the most eloquent people I've heard," he said. "When I have trouble articulating things, I would go to her for inspiration."
A writer’s life and work are not a gift to mankind; they are its necessity.”
“If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
“We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.”
February 18, 1931 – August 5, 2019
Francisco will be interviewing exhibitors, writing for our blog, posting to social media, and helping to find new ways reach out to long-time and new book fair exhibitors and attendees. You should expect to hear frequently from Francisco over the next two months. He'll also be helping out at the book fair in November: assisting at the admissions table, selling tickets, troubleshooting, and coordinating with exhibitors to ensure a safe, welcoming, and successful fair for booksellers, ephemera specialists, book artists, and local writers.
We hope Francisco leaves with stronger clips, sharper instincts, and a better sense of the paths open to someone who can report, edit, read closely, and write well. Those skills matter in journalism, publishing, communications, education, culture writing, and many other fields.
Most of all, we hope he gets room to try. Interns should have guidance, but they should also have chances to bring in their own ideas. Francisco’s background suggests he will have plenty of them.
A warm welcome to Francisco
Welcoming a new intern always brings fresh energy. With Francisco, it also brings a strong mix of reporting practice, literary study, and arts editorial experience. His time at UMass, his journalism and English major, and his role as assistant arts editor at The Collegian all point to someone who takes words seriously. That is exactly the kind of person any writing-focused team is glad to have nearby.
We are excited to see what Francisco contributes, what he learns, and how his voice continues to develop. Please join us in welcoming him to the team.
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