Gwyneth Bignell took an old-school approach to covering the arts and entertainment beat during her internship with Gig City this summer.

Pen and notebook in hand, the third-year Bachelor of Communications Studies student set out to review everything from music festivals and theatre performances to comedy and burlesque shows.

Bignell’s first show was in early July in the midst of Edmonton’s heatwave. “It was brutally hot and a bit bizarre adjusting to being in crowds again,” she says. “But it was interesting to go and watch shows as a reviewer and see them from a different perspective. I had a lot of fun, even though covering the music scene during COVID was challenging with fewer events to choose from than normal.”

Seeing her work published for the first time was a big deal – and a bit nerve-wracking. “Before this internship, I had never publicly shared my writing with anyone. It felt good having something to show for the work I do at school and in private, and to explore my journalistic writing style outside of academia.”

Exploring her own style meant pushing herself to find her own voice and identity in her writing. Her biggest takeaway from her experience at Gig City?

“Not to try to write in someone else’s voice,” she says. “I have spent so much of my studies writing in a voice I don’t recognize because I think it will get me better grades, or it sounds more professional, or that it fits the format better. But realistically, it’s just boring and uninspired.”

Bignell’s big goal? “I would love to publish in The Cut.” she says. “I know that won’t happen immediately, but I don’t think there is such a thing as setting your sights too high. All I know for sure is that I will always be writing.”

To be considered for a future Student Snapshots story, or to suggest someone we should feature, please email our communications team at communications@macewan.ca.