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Dear Future Intern,

Picture your first day as an intern journalist at the Singapore Police Force (SPF): you swipe your pass through security, step into the Police Headquarters at New Phoenix Park and arrive at the office of the Public Affairs Department.

Your supervisor greets you with a warm smile and guides you past rows of cubicles where the editorial team quietly crafts their articles. You pause in the pantry, prep your morning snack, then weave back to the so-called happiest nook of the office – the intern’s corner.

You’ve just taken your seat – it’s quiet, a little nerve-wracking and entirely new. Before you dive into your internship at Police Life, let me introduce myself.

I’m Glenn Wong, a final-year Communications & Media Management student at Temasek Polytechnic. Over the past 20 weeks, I’ve chased stories, earned bylines and learned tips beyond the headlines. These are five postcards reflecting my internship journey.

Speak Up!

On your first morning, you’ll sit through administrative briefings, logging 30 head-nods and a steady stream of “mhms.”

By late afternoon, your notebook may brim with notes, but doubts will creep in: “How do I even talk to Police officers?”

I remember that knot in my stomach. Should I ask the obvious question or just dwell in silence? For a moment, I almost did the latter. But you won’t. You’ll push off your chair and ask, “How do you break the ice with officers; are they friendly?”

In that quick chat, you’ll pick up a handful of icebreakers – like asking about their service experiences or the day’s duties. You’ll share laughs, turn colleagues into friends and make everyone’s day a little brighter. Later, when a peer hits the same roadblock, pass on what you’ve learned. Teaching others helps you learn too!

So, don’t wait at your desk – these casual conversations will calm your nerves, grow your network and reveal tips you wouldn’t have known!

Find Your Beat

By the following week, you’ll land your first assignment. For me, it was to cover the SPF Band performance at Toa Payoh Hub for their centennial celebrations.

Armed with a camera and a shot list, I photographed from the periphery, afraid to inch closer to the action in front of the crowd. My images were decent but flat – missing the Band’s energy. I knew I had to move closer.

Step out of the back row and go beyond the shot list. You’ll need to warm up, do a recce and snap a few test shots. Your first shots won’t be your best, but move into the action and capture the emotions. You’ll eventually get a shot you’re proud of.

Go forth and find your beat!

Lights, Camera, Crimewatch

During your internship, you’ll be attached to a Crimewatch production. I expected mine to be all adrenalin – cameras whipping through action scenes at a breakneck pace.

Instead, my four-day attachment revealed a choreographed stage: each scene rehearsed, every lighting cue timed, as detailed in our Crimewatch Production Diaries! Yes, there was action, but it was the quieter, emotional scenes that produced the most powerful stills.

When you cover any set or event, watch for those pauses. Ask for a quick rerun from a fresh angle, hold your frame just after “cut” and capture the unguarded expressions that follow. Those in-between moments carry the real story.

Stringing a Story Together

As you sharpen your skills, your workload will grow too. One morning, you’ll receive two big briefs: a profile on a Financial Crime investigator and a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Scholarship and Sponsorship Ceremony article featuring three officers. You’ll read the briefs, prepare interview questions and stare at the blank page, cursor blinking back at you – what should I ask? How do I even start writing this story?

Before you panic, here’s one tip for you: ask what ties the story together – what’s the objective? From there, plan your narrative and frame your questions accordingly.

Take the MHA Scholarship and Sponsorship Ceremony article as an example. While the featured officers are all scholarship recipients, you’ll need to dive deeper to find the common thread. Look at the interview transcripts and ask what links their journeys.

I found it in their commitment to learning and service. I grouped key quotes under those two themes, sketched a three-part outline, then cut details that didn’t reinforce the narrative. Suddenly, three separate profiles flowed as one seamless story.

Still stuck? Talk to your fellow interns and maybe you’ll have your eureka moment!

Your Next Chapter

By the end of your internship, you’ll hardly recognise who you were on the first day. You’ll have spoken up, found your beat under the spotlight, raced against deadlines, captured drama on set and written articles you once struggled to produce. You'll learn lessons no slide deck in school could cover.

I’m grateful to every officer, colleague and fellow intern who welcomed me and shared their expertise. I was trusted to explore, experiment and push my limits.

Yes, it’s tough, but there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your work out there. This experience will not only sharpen your skills – it’ll take you to places you never knew existed.

So, as I close this chapter in my journey, I wish you all the best as you collect your postcards and write your own story!