Mass Communication Internships

I was fortunate to land a marketing internship just two weeks after graduating in May, and that opportunity soon led to a career in teaching and coaching. The Mass Communication Department at UNC Asheville played a huge role in preparing me—I now teach concepts I first learned there, like video production and journalism, and use the creative skills I developed to make my classes engaging while managing social media content for our basketball program.”

I started as a marketing intern in March 2023, just before graduating in May, and by August I was a full-time employee. My Mass Communication courses gave me the foundation to succeed—Dr. DiPalma’s public relations class strengthened my understanding of paid, owned, and earned media, while my experience as The Blue Banner's social media editor and in courses with Dr. O’Brien and Dr. Meadow honed my design, writing, and client communication skills. Those lessons prepared me to create campaigns, ads, videos, and event materials that I now see come to life in my full-time marketing role.”

I believe the journalism courses I took in particular have translated well to the work I do currently. I draft a variety of print and email communications to prospective students and their families, and journalistic writing is applicable to that work. I believe having to interview people for class projects has made me more comfortable communicating with campus partners and alumni. Pulling together a portfolio as part of my senior seminar class influenced what I put in the portfolio I submitted when applying for jobs.

My time at UNC Asheville shaped who I am as a journalist, teaching me to dig deeper and always ask “why.” Professor O’Brien’s class on cultural studies especially challenged me to examine systemic power dynamics in media and consider how laws and policies affect everyday people — lessons that continue to guide my reporting today. I now work at The Daily Southtown, owned by The Chicago Tribune, covering the South suburbs of Chicago after completing a six-month internship reporting on state politics for the Tribune. I’m grateful to work alongside passionate, collaborative journalists who have helped me grow both professionally and personally."