Success story: Will Leivenberg, intern to full-timer

Will Leivenberg

Writing or interning at Bleacher Report can lead to good things. Sometimes that good thing is a full-time gig at Bleacher Report.

Today’s success story is Will Leivenberg, who recently parlayed a writing internship into a job as a community manager in B/R’s San Francisco office, despite a stubborn insistence on rooting for the wrong teams.

Here’s Will’s story in his own words:

Will Leivenberg: I recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in Journalism and New Media. I’m originally from Los Angeles—die-hard Lakers and Dodgers fan—and I’ve become enamored with the vibrant Bay Area culture over the last four years.

I recently moved to San Francisco to pursue a full-time position with Bleacher Report at their headquarters as Community Manager and I continue to write as a Featured Columnist. I feel incredibly privileged to both be working with this outgoing, intelligent and welcoming group and for this inventive, unique and continually growing company.

When I think back to my internship experience with B/R last summer, it ultimately came down to two things. First, a tiny little notebook and pen that fit in my pocket, and second, it was about being relentless.

The idea of carrying a pen and notebook is something my parents—who were both journalists—instilled in me when I was in high school and began contributing as a staff writer for the school newspaper. For B/R specifically, it was perfect. Whenever I’d be watching ESPN, talking sports with friends or randomly inspired with an idea for an article or slideshow I could quickly jot it down and then flesh it out later. By the end of the internship, I went through five notebooks.

The second piece to this puzzle—being relentless—was about finding a tangible way to separate myself, and my writing, on the B/R platform. It wasn’t about competing with other members for reads or medals, but more about taking advantage of this rare opportunity to learn about online media, improve my writing and social media skills, and build my own brand through the terrific exposure B/R offered.

From the outset I decided to totally immerse myself in Bleacher Report; I began pumping out 3-5 articles daily, commenting on articles written by my fellow interns as well as across the site, and emailing non-stop with my intern coordinators asking about ways to refine my skills—whether it was learning about SEO or strategically using social media.

This internship had a palpable impact on my writing, which was a consequence of both working with editors and being my own toughest critic. I promote the mentality that you should always believe that your story can be just a little better. Never be completely content with what you’ve done, and you’ll always strive to be better.

Before you publish, take another pass at it. Cut out unnecessary words. If there are two sides to a story, consider both and be respectful of conflicting points of view. On B/R, you get what you give.

I am also a huge advocate of social media. Although I was initially skeptical, especially about Twitter, it has proven to be extremely beneficial in my pursuit of growing my brand and a loyal readership.

The phrase that resonates with me: Unlock the power of your social network. Don’t underestimate the importance of posting your original content to your Facebook Profile Page, Twitter Account, LinkedIn profile and even emailing the link to friends and family.

Also, don’t hesitate to utilize these online spaces to engage people because that is truly what they are for. Quick example: I follow two of my favorite Golf writers, Jason Sobel of ESPN and Ron Sirak of Golf Digest, on Twitter and have been able to email and speak with both of them on the phone because I initially interacted with them on Twitter.

What I loved, and continue to appreciate about B/R, is that it empowers you, the sports fan, to express your opinions, allegiances and perspectives on this completely unique platform and then engage with a wide and diverse audience. While the internship allowed me to expand my writing abilities by receiving, and pursuing, assignments across the sports spectrum—a crucial skill in this field—it also enabled me to develop a niche (in golf), which is another valuable asset for a writer.