Major(s): Journalism, with a concentration in Sports Journalism
Graduation Year: 2023
Hometown: Clifton Park, New York
Internship: Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Title: Digital Producer and Reporting Intern
Why are you studying Journalism, and how has the major prepared you for your internship?
I'm studying journalism because I've always had a passion for storytelling, and this major has helped teach me how to report on stories and tell them in the most effective way possible.
How did you find your internship? What was the process like?
I found this internship by searching the company on google and seeing if there were any available positions. The UFC had its applications hosted on Teamwork Online, so I filled out all the application requirements and waited for a response. I heard back a month or so later for part 2 of the application process, a zoom interview. Then a month after that, I got the position.
Please describe your internship experience. What were your job responsibilities?
I'm a digital producer and reporter at the UFC, so I interview athletes and write feature-style stories that are published on UFC.com and UFC News Twitter. I have also shot photos for galleries on the website and just began shooting videos for short-form video packages of athletes on the website. Day-to-day, I operate the CMS, where I publish media items such as articles, videos and galleries on the website. On fight nights, I am either in the venue interviewing athletes, or remote operating the website or UFC News Twitter account.
What was the greatest takeaway from your internship experience? What skills did you gain?
The biggest skill I've gained is becoming as versatile as a reporter as I can be. Even if I'm working at a live event, conducting interviews, writing feature stories, or shooting photos or videos, I can tackle any responsibility effectively and produce the best content.
What project were you most proud of at the end of your internship and why?
As of now, just over halfway through my internship, I've had 60 bylines published for the UFC, a number that I haven't reached at any prior publication. I never thought I'd be thrown in the fire as much as I have, but I couldn't be happier to be this involved with the company. An article that my dad said is his favorite is titled "Jose Aldo Never Stopped Chasing Gold."
How does the internship relate to your field of interest in Journalism? How has it influenced your long-term goals and career objectives?
This experience has reinforced my long-term goals of being a reporter, spending time with athletes, and telling their stories through photos, videos, and written articles. The UFC is my dream company to work for, and spending seven months interning there has been a dream come true. I'm excited to see what's next post-graduation.
What advice would you give to current students hoping to apply for the same internship in the future?
The best advice I can give is that if you're passionate about journalism, get as much experience as you can while you're in college through internships and jobs. Before the UFC, I interned at two newspapers over summer break, wrote and edited for The Massachusetts Daily Collegian, and worked for UMass Sports Network during the fall and spring semesters. That may sound overwhelming, but at the end of the day, you need to set yourself apart from the thousands of other students who want the same position as you. If you take advantage of the resources college offers, I'm positive your hard work will get noticed.