By Alice Eberhart
This summer, students represented the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences across the county in various internships, taking what they learned in the classroom and using it during professional experiences.
Six students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication shared their internship experience, answered questions, and discussed what their day looks like during Instagram story takeovers on the CLAS Instagram page.
Allison Walker, U.S. House of Representatives
Allison Walker is a journalism and mass communication major who had an internship in the U.S. House of Representatives on Capitol Hill.
Walker’s day started by seeing puppies in the Capitol and showing an office tour on the Instagram takeover.
For most of the day, Walker was busy watching the floor and taking notes on the debates, including what was being proposed and who opposed what, to report back to her legislature director.
Walker mentioned the value of her hands-on experience and the benefits of professional contacts.
“I love being in D.C. and networking,” Walker said. “Making my new friends has been a blast.”
Hannah Lipski, News Nation with Nextar Media
Hannah Lipski is double majoring in journalism and mass communication and theater on the musical theater track, with a minor in political science. This summer, Lipski interned at News Nation with Nexstar Media in Chicago to pursue her goal of being an on-screen news correspondent.
Lipski’s day was a combination of news writing and video news production. She spent her time working on writing new stories, shadowing another correspondent, and meeting with the vice president of research and outreach, along with other interns.
“I am super grateful for this experience, and it has been amazing to work at a national broadcasting station,” Lipski said. “The news cycle here has just been insane this summer. It’s something new every day, every hour. I’m lucky to see how the journalists handle it in real-time.”
Lipski also used her takeover to showcase behind the scenes of other news anchors, including what it looks like in the office while they are filming, and backstage in the makeup room.
Jami Martin-Trainor, Wall Street Journal
Jami Martin-Trainor is a double major in journalism and mass communication and political science, with a minor in gender, women’s, and sexuality studies. Martin-Trainor was an audience engagement intern at the Wall Street Journal in New York City over the summer.
Martin-Trainor got to travel to New York City for the first time for this internship. In the office, she spent her time working with the audience engagement team, ensuring the business publication was serving its readers’ needs in the ever-changing news environment.
The internship fulfilled Martin-Trainor's expectations and more this summer.
“Working for a national publication has always been a goal of mine, and this summer’s national news cycle has not disappointed,” Martin-Trainor said.
Jackson Fischer, HNI Corporation
Jackson Fischer is a journalism and mass communication major who worked as a public relations and events intern at HNI Corporation this summer.
Fischer’s work was varied and in-depth, including brand research, conducting competitor analysis, writing for subject matter experts, and attending a brand summit.
The first-hand experience provided Fischer with a clearer perspective on the work done in brand strategy.
“I have learned that brand strategy takes time and involves a lot of brainstorming before anything comes to life,” Fischer said. “Last week, my team had an 8-hour brand summit that involved over 20 members, which will help us as we navigate where we need to go in the coming months.”
Julianne Altenbern-Roberts, HGTV
Julianne Altenbern-Roberts is a journalism and mass communication major who interned as an editorial, TV, and talent writer at HGTV under Warner Bros. Discovery in Seattle this summer.
Altenbern-Roberts shared the many responsibilities of her day, including conducting interviews with HGTV talent and producers, pitching and writing articles, managing social media, and writing content for the website and social media.
She found her internship by looking for openings at companies she knew she wanted to work for and shared helpful advice for fellow students looking for careers in creative fields.
“Find a way to create consistently that showcases your skills and dedication,” Altenbern-Roberts said. “This shows employers that you are not only talented but dedicated.”
Kate Perez, Seattle Times
Kate Perez is a journalism and mass communication major with a minor in English and a creative writing certificate. This past summer, she worked as a metro intern at the Seattle Times.
As a metro intern, Perez reported on all things relating to metropolitan Seattle, including transportation, the environment, education, politics, breaking news, and more.
Perez shared her experiences in the office, including the balance between hybrid and remote work, and networking experiences like having lunch with fellow interns.
She also explained the variety of work she has written, including her most recent story on a species of native bird losing habitat and a breaking news story after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race.
“I would say one of my biggest takeaways would be the importance of versatility and patience,” Perez said. “This newsroom works differently than other newsrooms I’ve experienced and that took me a while to learn but being able to say yes to any type of story and be ready to go whenever they need me has really served me well and allowed me to cover.”