As a former journalist, I still get a thrill whenever a student gets published. Especially when it's a super-student like Jennifer Kim, who has also volunteered and interned for us. Check out Jennifer's first published op-ed, an assignment she worked on in Boot Camp for Journalists, and published recently in USA Today.

After taking Introduction to Magazine Writing, Jennifer published a few pieces in The L.A. Times Calendar Weekend and on Citysearch. "Basically, all my journalism experience comes from mediabistro classes and reading the mediabistro website. I feel like I am a poster child for the organization."

Up for a challenge, Jen enrolled in Boot Camp for Journalists, our tough 8-week portfolio-maker for more advanced students. "It was painful and not too pretty, but the end result was worth it, I think. [Instructor] Lynda Gorov is an excellent editor."

And yes, the op-ed published in USAT is the same one she wrote in class. "Lynda and my classmates really helped my piece develop. The op-ed [about SAT prep classes] was based on personal experiences. I had taught expensive SAT classes before, and I wanted to show people all the free alternatives to test-prepping that were out there. In general, there is just tons of free information and resources out there for people; I like connecting readers to it."

And the editing process? "The editor took my lengthy op-ed and condensed it to their 450 or so word count," says Jennifer. "They took out a lot of my more colorful writing, but in the end, I think that was the best way to go. Basically, they stripped it down to its essence and made it less inflammatory. They published it a week after I submitted it, so I think timing was very important here. Also, I appreciated the thoroughness of their fact checking."

Jennifer has plenty of advice for those shy about writing or pitching an op-ed. "Prior to my mediabistro class, I never even considered writing an op-ed, didn't even read those pages really. Now, I see that op-eds are fun and viable for me. They can cover a range of topics and don't have to be all about the analysis of hard news. They can be like personal essays, but definitely try to hook them onto something."

"I pitched this op-ed first during the winter and it just wasn't the right time. I rewrote it by taking a different angle that was suggested in class, timed it to summer when kids get out of school, resubmitted it to USA Today, and then they took it. Another great thing about op-eds is that there is no pitching really; you're already done with it and you submit it as a completed piece. If you don't hear back from the paper after a week, you just move on to the next paper. It's painless and fast. And they're fun to write because it's your opinion, not an assignment."

Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Director of Community Development