Interns take Turlock’s historic downtown into the digital age

A new internship placement program is raising the profile of Turlock’s historic downtown business district – for free – by pairing communications majors who want experience and references with retailers who want an online presence and social media marketing.

The internships work as an individual study class run by professor Nancy Burroughs, chair of the communication studies department at California State University, Stanislaus. Interns earn credits rather than a paycheck. John Jaureguy and Troy Thoreson of the Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association act as employers.

“I think it bridges a gap, it helps downtown and it helps us,” said intern James Governale. He spends nine hours a week developing business stories and event listings for the downtown business website, www.turlockdowntown.com, to fulfill his three-unit commitment. Sydney Riley does much the same for three hours a week for her one-unit course.

“We’re trying to create content for the site,” Governale said. But even for free, it has not always been an easy sell.

Skeptical store owners have been quick to ask what they are selling and how much it will cost them, both said, adding that the experience taught them some things.

“It’s making sure you’re approaching people in the right way,” Riley said. She explains how an online presence can help their business and shows them the website. “Some didn’t even know there was one,” she added.

Asking questions about how they started or what stories they have is Governale’s technique. “I try to find something relatable, something funny. At the very least it makes the business feel like they’re being listened to,” he said.

Downtown owners span a wide range of ages and online comfort, Riley said. “It’s a really cool mix.”

Both would like to launch Facebook and Instagram feeds for downtown, but want to be sure there’s a constant flow of content. “It looks really unprofessional to be putting stuff up and then have nothing for a couple of weeks, Governale said.

The Turlock downtown website had just been updated when the semester started, putting the college students on the ground floor in developing its feel. “We came in at a good place,” Riley said.

“It was a great time,” added Governale. He stumbled into the internship after another fell through, but feels all the work has given him solid practice on the interpersonal relationship skills that are the focus of his major. “I have to approach everyone,” he said with a grin.

The interns were not alone in meeting skeptics downtown, said Michael Camara, who helped put the program together. At a presentation before the downtown association last month, however, owners who liked the idea stood up for it.

“The general reaction at first was to laugh – ‘What is it going to cost me?’ ” Camara said. “These moms and pops may be unfamiliar with the Internet,” he said.

Camara is executive director of the Stanislaus Tutoring And Mentoring Program, which is better known for placing Stanislaus State student volunteers as elementary school tutors. The university-downtown internship program is a second STAMP effort.

Recent Hilmar High School graduate Julia Johnson wanted some experience in food service before launching into a career in that field. Lisa’s Cookie Jar on Broadway provided the perfect trial run and now Johnson works as a cookie decorator.

“I was hesitant to have an intern at first,” said owner Lisa Fernandes. “But it was the best decision I every made. She was awesome.”

“It’s the best first job I could ever have,” said Johnson, now a student at Merced College.

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 8:27 PM with the headline "Interns take Turlock’s historic downtown into the digital age."