Charles Apple

What are all the cool kids doing this summer?

Some have internships. Some are graduating and will be entering the job market. And some will be preparing for next fall’s semester.

Below, we proudly present our second annual list of college journalism’s brightest and best. Where they’re interning, when they’re graduating and what they hope to do once they’re done.

As you scroll down the roster, you’ll be struck by the number of grad students ask to be included this year. Several of them had very impressive professional credentials even before they went back to school.

Also, we’re continually impressed with the quality of personal portfolio sites. Perhaps that’s not surprising, given the number of students with advanced multimedia skills this year. Some of these sites are quite sophisticated, though. Be sure you check them out.

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MARIA AVERION
Ohio University

Graduates: She finished coursework for grad school this spring in photo and graphics management. Previously earned a degree in journalism from Ohio State.
Major: Photojournalism
Previous internships: Has worked full-time positions as a design editor at the Myrtle Beach, S.C., Sun News, an online manager at the Akron Beacon Journal and the Orlando Sentinel, as a systems editor at the Washington Post and as a multimedia producer for MSNBC.com.
2009 internship: Microsoft.

I am employed in a contract job with Microsoft until November. I am most interested in teaching at the university level. I am interested in teaching design across all platforms.

Samples: averion.com

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NICK BURNS
University of California, Berkeley

Graduates: From grad school in May 2010. Has a degree in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Major: New Media
Previous internships: DNR magazine [a now-defunct fashion magazine from Condé Nast], POZ magazine [a health magazine about living with HIV].
2009 internship: A video production position in the Tokyo office of Reuters.

I’m an NYC/SF-based magazine writer-turned-new media producer specializing in health and fashion.

Samples: nickburnsonline.com

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KYLE ELLIS
Ball State University

Graduates: December 2009
Major: Journalism Graphics, with a minor in Communication Studies
Previous internship: The Evansville, Ind., Courier & Press, 2008, where he designed for the daily paper, three magazines and community tabs. He also created prototypes for La Nueva Voz, a new tabloid serving the Spanish community there.
2009 internship: South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Ft. Lauderdale

I can’t begin to describe how excited I am to be spending my summer with the Sun-Sentinel, but as far as fun stuff: I’ve seen Kenny Chesney six times in the last four years… have visited more than half the continental United States… I could drink Passion Iced Tea Lemonades from Starbucks all day, every day… I’m terribly afraid of snakes and my favorite food is lasagna.

Samples: kyleellis.net is “Coming soon,” Kyle says.

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JESSICA ESTEPA
University of Nevada, Reno

Graduates: May 2010
Major: Journalism, with an emphasis in print
Previous internships: Reporter for Greenspun Media Group’s The News, 2007; Reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal, 2008.
2009 internship: None, but seeking one.

I’m a: journalism student, aspiring online reporter, avid Twitter-er, semi-regular blogger and news junkie.

Samples: jessicaestepa.com

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ALLIE GHAMAN
University of Michigan

Graduates: April 2010
Major: English
Previous internships: San Francisco Chronicle graphics department, 2008.
2009 internship: Page designer, Washington Post

I’m pretty thrilled — I grew up in Bethesda, Maryland so the Post was always my “home” paper.  I ended my time as managing design editor at The Michigan Daily this January, and have been teaching myself more web design since.

Samples: Find Allie’s portfolio posted at Flickr.

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MICHAEL HIGDON
University of Nevada, Reno

Graduates: May 2009
Major: The Public and Journalism, with minors in Journalism and Political Science
Previous internships: Design at The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky., 2007; Designer at the Indianapolis Star, 2008, via a Pulliam Fellowship;
Poynter Fellowship, 2008.
2009 internship: A Poynter Fellowship followed by the Newspaper Association of America Foundation News Challenge.

I think I had senioritus my first two years because there are only a couple of weeks of school left and I still care and want to go to school every day. Sometimes I wish I could do school all over again and learn 10 times more so I’d be more prepared to enter the workforce.

Samples: mikehigdon.com

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BETH HOFFMAN
University of California, Berkeley

Graduates: From grad school in May 2009
Major: Print Journalism
Previous internships: Beth is a freelance radio and multimedia producer and a writer. She’s worked for Utah’s NPR station, KUER, National Public Radio, The World, Latino USA and Living on Earth. She spent three and a half years as Senior Interviewer and Researcher for the Center for Documentary Arts. Beth received the Robert Whittman Award for Exceptional Reporting in 2008.

Samples: bethaudio.com

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KRISTEN HUTH
Penn State University

Graduates: May 2009
Major: Journalism, minor in French
Previous internship: Copy editor at The Virginian-Pilot, 2008, via the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund
2009 internship: None yet. “Still looking though,” Kristen writes. She was recently accepted to the graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh for Library and Information Science, “So I’m thinking about that as an option for fall,” she writes. “That blank canvas after graduation is a little scary right now!”

My senior year at Penn State has been a whirlwind–I’m the managing editor of design at The Daily Collegian, the president of our chapter of SND (I hosted a QuickCourse last month), and a founding member of our new ACES chapter (I won one of their scholarships this year).  This last month of school will be dedicated to searching for a job and tying up loose ends (such as training the new design editor and capping off the Happy Valley experience — I still have to climb Mount Nittany!).

Samples: None posted.

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CHRIS LEE
Eastern Illinois University

Graduates: December 2009
Major: Journalism
Previous internship: Rockford, Ill., Register Star, 2008
2009 internship: None — he’ll be studying abroad in the Netherlands.

If I were to have an internship, I would definitely try to work for the Register Star again. It’s one of the few papers I’ve seen that is focused on growth and their graphics team (headed by Chris Soprych), while small, is super talented. Can’t say enough about them. I am currently taking a Multimedia Journalism class which is mostly focused on web video and web technology. I am also in the process of teaching myself action script, of which I hope to have a strong grasp before I graduate.

Samples: chrisly.info

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KYLE LEWIS
Ball State University

Graduates: May 2010
Major: Journalism Graphics
Previous internships: Designer, Greenfield Daily Reporter, Ind., 2007; Designer, Pendleton Times-Post, Ind., 2007-2008.
2009 internship: Designer, Indianapolis Monthly magazine

I redesigned the Pendleton/Lapel Times-Post into a combined broadsheet color paper.

Samples: kyle-lewis.webs.com

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CLARE MAJOR
University of California, Berkeley

Graduates: From grad school in May 2010
Major: Journalism, with a focus on TV/Documentary
Previous internships: Production/post-production intern at Studio B Films, Berkeley, 2007; Freelance video editor, 2007-present.
2009 internship: Video department of the New York Times

I spent spring break in Spain shooting a video piece with a Senegalese family from my Peace Corps host village.  We talked about their lives as immigrants, Spanish policy — what integration and identity mean to them.

Samples: vimeo.com/claremajor/videos

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JAMES MOLNAR
Marquette University

Graduates: May 2009
Majors: Journalism and French
Previous internships: TV news, Fox Toledo, 2006; Designer, Toledo Free Press, 2007; Freelance, 2008.
2009 internship: “Nothing yet,” James writes.

2009 is the year of the Fail Whale for my friend and me — every contest we enter, we lose; no jobs for post graduation; every internship I apply for is cut.

Samples: jmolnar.net/resume

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KATIE MYRICK
Indiana University

Graduates: May 2010
Majors: Journalism and History
Previous internships: Sports and features design, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2008; Sports design, Arizona Republic, December 2008-March 2009.
2009 internship: A Poynter Fellowship and then the St. Petersburg Times

The past year has been incredibly busy, but so much fun — a couple internships, my first SND conference, a couple of trips outside of the country, a magazine redesign. This summer, I’ll be doing a Poynter Fellowship before heading to the Times. Then, back to Indiana to spend the year as editor of our college yearbook!

Samples: None posted

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ALI NEWTON
Ball State University

Graduates: May 2009
Major: Journalism Graphics
Previous internship: Design and graphics intern at The Tennessean in Nashville, Tenn.
2009 internship: Graphics at the Indianapolis Star via a Pulliam Fellowship.

One of ten finalist for The Intern at SND Vegas and received a fellowship with Poynter. Design Editor of The Ball State Daily News this past year.

Samples: ranewton.iweb.bsu.edu/portfolio.swf

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BRIDGET O’DONNELL
University of Michigan

Graduates: May 2009
Major: Political Science, Communication Studies
Previous internships: Art department of Autoweek Magazine, 2007; Features design department of The New York Times, 2008.
2009 internship: A Poynter Fellowship followed by an internship at Creative Circle Media Consulting, Providence, R.I., via The Intern competition at SND/Vegas.

My final year at Michigan has been busy but rewarding. While balancing my duties as the Visual Design coordinator for Dance Marathon, Chinese class and various part time jobs, I completely switched over to the web side of things at our school paper, The Michigan Daily. (I was the Online Editor there through December.) I even learned Flash along the way! Currently, I’m working on a redesign of the Daily’s website before I graduate.

Samples: bridgetodonnell.com (Also has a portfolio at Flickr)

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AARON OLSON
Michigan State University

Graduates: May 2010
Major: Journalism
Previous internships: None
2009 internship: The Miami Herald. “I need to start getting a base tan or I will be a lobster for the entire time I am down there,” Aaron writes.

After six years and three different schools, I am only one year away from finally finishing my degree. But six years of student loans have led to a pretty nice collection of design books, a lot of varied experiences from different professors and a more than adequate knowledge of cheap college food — namely Hot Pockets and instant mashed potatoes.

Samples: msu.edu/~olsonaar

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CAITY PELLICCIA
University of North Carolina

Graduates: May 2009
Major: Journalism & Mass Communication/Visual Communication
Previous internships: Designer at Carolina Union Marketing and Design; web and print graphic artist at the Hartford Courant; Page designer at the (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer.
2009 internship: Features and sports designer at the Dallas Morning News, via The Intern competition at SND/Vegas.

My senior year at Carolina has been absolutely amazing: a national championship (Go Heels!), a conference in Vegas, and a temporary design gig with the News & Observer. Even though things in the industry are rocky right now, I’m ready to graduate and jump into the mess head-first. I’m young and cheap, and I make some banging chocolate chip cookies. It’s a good sales pitch.

Samples: caitypelliccia.com

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CHASE PURDY
Hillsdale College

Graduates: May 2009
Major: English
Previous internships: Reporting, design, multimedia, Toledo Free Press, 2007; Reporting, (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier, 2008.
2009 internship: Reporter, The Arizona Republic via a Pulliam Fellowship.

For the past year I’ve been the managing editor of The Collegian at Hillsdale College. The best part of the job is helping new writers and younger editors learn the intricacies of pulling together a great paper. When I’m not reporting, writing or designing I’m probably playing Scrabble, listening to rock ‘n roll or juggling.

Samples: chasepurdy.blogspot.com

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STEVE SALDIVAR
University of California, Berkeley

Graduates: From grad school in May 2010. Has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Cal Berkeley.
Major: Journalism
Previous internships: California magazine; The Daily Californian (the student paper at Cal Berkeley); Mission Local, San Francisco.
2009 internship: None

I was born and reared in East L.A.

Samples: stevesaldivar.com

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ALISON LEE SATAKE
University of California, Berkeley

Graduates: From grad school in May 2009. Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English in 1998 from Barnard College.
Major: Journalism
Previous internship: Features desk of the Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News, 2008. She wrote stories and produced web videos.
2009 internship: Yet to be determined. She plans to freelance in Wilmington.

I studied sustainable agriculture from farmers in Cuba. I researched and found my ancestral village in China and went back as the first person in four generations of my family. And, I’ve trekked around the Antarctic peninsula. In addition to travel and journalism, I love to scuba dive and salsa dance.

Samples: alisonsatake.com

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MARIA SCHMITT
Hillsdale College

Graduates: May 2010
Major: English
Previous internships: General assignment reporter, Longmont (Colo.) Times-Call, May-August 2008; Freelance reporter, The Jackson (Mich.) Citizen-Patriot, September 2008-present.
2009 internship: General assignment reporter, The Washington Examiner, via the Quayle Journalism Intern Program.

I am a junior at Hillsdale College interested in education, business, and sports reporting (mainly basketball). I am originally from Colorado and can’t wait to write for a paper there someday.

Samples: mariaschmitt.blogspot.com

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MORGAN SCHNEIDER
Hillsdale College

Graduates: May 2009
Major: English, with a concentration in journalism
Previous internships: News copy desk at The Arizona Republic, December 2007 to February 2008; News copy desk at the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill., March to May 2008; Copy desk at The Arizona Republic via a Pulliam Fellowship, summer 2008.
2009 internship: Copy desk at The Washington Post

So many people outside of journalism keep telling me to jump ship, but I’m eager to jump in. I can’t wait to join the copy desk at The Post — and when I’m not checking facts and crafting headlines, I plan to wander through D.C. and document whatever catches my eye using my 23-year-old Minolta camera. (And I’ll probably test out lots of recipes too, continuing my quest for recipes of perfect desserts.)

Samples: mschneider.carbonmade.com

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LUCIE SCHWARTZ
University of California, Berkeley

Graduates: From grad school in May 2009. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in broadcast journalism from New York University.
Major: Journalism, with an emphasis in documentary film.
Previous internships: In her undergrad days, she interned for ABC News’ 20/20 and for WCBS-TV in New York City. Lucie spent two years as an associate producer for Court TV (now TruTV). Last summer, she interned at Santoki Productions, a San Francisco-based documentary production company.
2009 internship: Lucie writes: “I am currently looking for a job or internship in video production, either for the web, for television, or feature films.”

I am a journalist and documentary filmmaker with a strong background in television production and international reporting. I grew up in Belgium, France, I’ve lived in Italy, I’m fluent in French and proficient in Italian and Spanish. I have reported in France and in India.

Samples: Find samples of Lucie’s work on her web site.

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ELIZABETH SHEMARIA
University of California, Berkeley

Graduates: From grad school in May 2009
Major: New Media Journalism
Previous internships: Human Rights Watch; I.F. Stone Fellow, 2008
2009 internship: Carnegie-Knight News 21 Fellowship

My career in journalism began in 2005 after studying graphic design, art history and international law. In Spring 2008, I combined my interests in art, journalism and new media when I reported a story from Thailand and Burma about Burmese artists. My travels have also taken me to Israel, The West Bank, Eastern and Western Europe. In the future, I hope to work as a new media journalist.

Samples: elizabethshemaria.com

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CHRISTA SMITH
DePaul University

Graduates: June 2010
Major: Digital Cinema with a focus in screenwriting
Previous internship: Multimedia internship, Chicago Tribune, 2008.
2009 internship: Social media, Chicago Tribune

Trying to change the world a little at a time.

Samples: None posted

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HEATHER STEEVES
University of Maine

Graduates: May 2009
Major: Journalism — broadcast and print
Previous internships: WMUR, an ABC/CNN news station in Manchester, N.H., 2007; Photographer/reporter at The Ellsworth (Maine) American newspaper, 2008.
2009 internship: None

This school year I’ve worked as the news editor of my college paper, the executive producer of the campus news show, and I’m taking on a documentary project. I love long-form journalism, playing with layouts of pages in Quark, and riding horses … and waterskiing.

Samples: Hard news, a news feature, a culture article and a style feature.

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MICHELLE STOFFEL
DePaul University

Graduates: June 2009
Major: Journalism
Previous internships: Pioneer Press,  part of the Sun Times News Group in the suburbs of Chicago, December 2008 to January 2009; Is Greater Than, Nov 2008-March 2009; Chicago Tribune features department, spring 2009.
2009 internship: Social media, Chicago Tribune

If you haven’t shook my hand yet, you probably will soon. I’m on a quest to get to know as many people as possible “in real life,” as we now say. With journalism being as uncertain as it is, I’ve spent my internships working hard, but having fun while doing it. In my eyes, the digital/print convergence of journalism means you have to love everything you create enough to present your work in different ways to different audiences, distribute and promote it. Luckily I’ve worked with some great organizations that are teaching me to move forward.

Samples: michellestoffel.tumblr.com

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ARIANA MELISSA TORREY
University of Utah

Graduates: May 2009 — “So close I can taste it,” she writes.
Major: Art, with an emphasis in Illustration
Previous internships: None
2009 internship: Currently working at the Deseret News in Salt Lake City.

I worked at my school paper, The Daily Utah Chronicle, from 2005 to 2007. I started as a page designer and then became Production Manager. I’m really good at Freecell (an online solitare card game). My win percentage is 92%. Oh, man, I’m such a dork.

Samples: “I just posted some pages in my blog”

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ERIC VAN DRIL
The University of Iowa

Graduates: May 2009
Majors: Journalism and Mass Communications and Business.
Previous internships: TheCelebrityCafe.com (January 2008 - January 2009), HardballReport.com (March 2008 - October 2008), The Cedar Rapids Gazette’s HooplaNow.com (November 2008 - Present), ToTheTin.com (October 2008 - Present), IsThisItX.com (November 2008 - March 2009), RipcordNews.com (March 2009 - Present).
2009 internship: None. Hoping to enter the work force instead.

I’m actively looking for a full-time job at a major paper to create and run a high-quality entertainment news blog.  Ripcordnews.com is a blog I’ve created as a prototype. I don’t sleep very much (5 to 6 hours per night) and I’m very tall.

Samples: “I don’t have a portfolio, but each one of those sites is still up and running,” Eric writes. “My stuff is featured on the front page of all but TheCelebrityCafe.com’s front page.  If anybody would like more writing samples, they can contact me at ripcordnews [at] gmail.com.”

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TARYN WOOD
University of Missouri

Graduates: From grad school in May 2010. Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in December 2008.
Major: Journalism, with an emphasis on Magazine design.
Previous internships: Art department of St. Louis Magazine, 2007 and 2008.
2009 internship: Art department of People magazine.

This year, I designed the first ever surveyed Top Doctors issue that Columbia, Missouri has seen, and it was really eye-opening. More interestingly, I love Gary Hustwit and everything he does. Everyone I make watch Helvetica falls asleep, but at least they are a little more historically aware of fonts in their life.

Samples: tarynbwood.com

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ASHLEY ZAMMITT
University of North Carolina

Graduates: December 2009
Major: Visual communications. She’ll finish all classes in both the graphics and multimedia sequences, she says.
Previous internship: Multimedia producer and web designer for Swarm Interactive, Inc. [The medical graphics firm populated by Don Wittekind, Scott Horner, Chris Kirkman and other former Sun Sentinel masterminds]
2009 internship: Carnegie-Knight News 21 fellowship

I’m putting off graduation until December because: a) No one is hiring, and b) Why not?! Thankfully, I have great plans for the summer — a fellowship with News21, a project sponsored by Carnegie & Knight that challenges journalism students to produce innovative work in multimedia, reporting, design, etc. UNC just joined the project this year and we are focusing on U.S. energy use and demographics. I’ll be head of the design team, meaning I’ll work on everything from motion graphics to video player interface design. We’ve got a great group of coaches and fellows and some great story ideas — I can’t wait to see it all come to fruition!

Samples: ashleyzammitt.com

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And there you have it: 31 college students to watch this year.

Thanks to all for participating. And best of luck in your summer internships or your job hunting!

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at 6:02 am and is filed under College journalism, Networking, Recruiting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.