Where are you from and what were you doing before enrolling in graduate school?
I’m originally from Rhode Island but I usually like to say the Boston area since I just graduated from Boston University. I double majored in international relations and economics but found a passion for journalism at BU’s independent student newspaper, The Daily Free Press. As the campus news editor, I pushed the section to publish longform investigative pieces that looked into systemic issues and problematic officials across the university. I didn’t think I would pursue journalism as a career until I got an internship at a global business show on CNN and realized I could tie my academic interests together with my reporting skills. I applied to USC Annenberg shortly after and spent a month on a cross-country road trip before arriving in Los Angeles!
How did you learn of the degree program and why did you choose USC Annenberg?
Years before I was interested in journalism, I remember my parents once calling USC Annenberg the best program around. After I was accepted, I visited campus and met some incredible faculty and students and had the chance to sit in on classes. I was struck by how hardworking and down to earth the community was, and I really appreciated how the faculty seemed to drive the admissions process, which is not the same at every university. The many travel opportunities and the built-in Media Center newsroom experience were huge draws as well. Having only ever lived in New England, I also wanted to grow as a journalist by uprooting and learning how to report on a totally new community.
What have you enjoyed the most about the degree program?
Through a combination of classes, the Media Center and directed research with faculty members, I have been able to grow my investigative, international and data journalism abilities. Knowing how to code a website, shoot and edit video, find a story among thousands of data points and conduct geolocation verification are just a few of the skills the program has already left me with. In the Fall, I traveled to Brussels on a study tour of the European Union, and in the Spring I will travel to Berlin to report on the intersection of religion and politics. Outside of classes, my favorite day of the week has become the day I run the USC News desk in the Media Center as a managing editor. I love working with younger students who are new to reporting and collaborating with my fellow editors on coverage ideas for Annenberg Media as a whole. I have also met inspiring people who I hope will be lifelong friends and connections across the industry. I am pushed to be a better journalist everyday just by being around such a talented and passionate group of people.