Final answer:
The primary purpose of internships is to provide in-depth insight into a chosen career field, allowing interns to learn job responsibilities and acquire skills, not necessarily to provide a living wage or solely for setting personal goals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose of internships, such as the one Tanner is seeking in freelance journalism, is to provide interns with a deeper insight into their chosen career field. Internships allow participants to observe and learn about job responsibilities firsthand and acquire the skills they need for their future careers.
Internships are a critical step for those starting their careers, like Tanner, as they offer the chance to apply academic knowledge in real-world settings, provide valuable work experience, and enhance employability. Additionally, internships can sometimes offer school credit and often serve as a stepping stone to securing a job after graduation. They are not typically focused on providing a living wage but rather on the learning and networking opportunities.
While setting and achieving milestones can be part of the process, the primary goal is the educational aspect and the acquisition of knowledge within a professional environment. Such experiences are highly beneficial for building a professional network and can even influence the direction of one's career path based on the exposure to different roles and responsibilities within the industry.