Monica Lewinsky jokes notwithstanding, being a legislative intern is one of the most fascinating and revealing positions a young person can have. With a typical commitment of 15 or more hours a week, interns at the Massachusetts State House get to see the inner workings of policy-making, constituent relations, and the simple unglamorous busywork that comes with the territory. Calling the representative or state senator from your district is the best way to get a gig, and it helps to have solid written and verbal skills, as well as competency with computer office programs.

Beacon Hill may seem a bit stuffy for some would-be interns. Combining the edgy environs of an alternative press with the fast-paced world of weekly journalism (if we do say so ourselves), the Boston Phoenix offers a less-buttoned-down arena for skill development. To seek one of the positions in editorial, design, marketing, promotions, or the Web, applicants must be enrolled in college, preferably gaining college credit for the internship itself. In both cases, the only pay is the kind you expect from an internship: experience.

State House, contact your legislator for more information; Boston Phoenix, www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/about_phoenix/internships.asp.