a magazine internship i am interested in requires writing samples. I have written several press releases, product overviews, etc. in my various internships, but never magazine articles. would it be better to send my press releases? or to write articles on a related topic and just send them in?
I don't have experience in mag writing, but I would send them the stuff you have written already. They probably just want to see what style writing you have, and what you have done so far should showcase that. When you send your work, tell them you would be happy to also write up and send them magazine style articles if need be, and that will show them that you are willing to go the extra mile for the internship.
Magazine Journalism graduate here. When they ask you to send clips, they mean published work, so send them your press releases, et al. If you get an interview and they want more, then take things that you have from classes (as a last resort), but not research papers and such. Take clips that you wrote for any journalism class you might have taken. I wouldn't recommend writing a fake article unless they specifically ask you for that kind of thing (for example, they give you some information and want you do write something about it). Good luck!
hmm...i think i would submit whatever pieces i was most proud of. i don't necessarily know if that means a product overview or a press release or a piece of persuasive writing you wrote in school but at least that way, i would know i gave them the very best that i had for them to judge. good luck!
My boss told me that you can submit writing samples from anything, not necessarily published. You should definately take your press releases because that shows several writing styles, such as your persuasive, energetic, and technical styles. Which are all very hard to do for the average person.