Major(s): Communication and Journalism, with a concentration in Sports Journalism
Graduation Year: 2023
Hometown: Northampton, MA
Internship: Sports Illustrated
Title: Fact-Checking and Reporting Intern
Why are you studying Journalism, and how has the major prepared you for your internship?
Everything I learned in the sports journalism field, I learned at UMass Amherst. Through my time at the Daily Collegian and in important journalism classes like Politics of Sports, Issues in Sports, and many others, I developed high-level reporting skills, enhanced my writing abilities and grew as a journalist tremendously.
How did you find your internship? What was the process like?
I reached out to my professor Jena Janovy, who recommended I apply to Sports Illustrated (SI). I sent in my application at the end of March, spoke with someone from the company a few times and a few weeks later, I got an email confirming I got the internship. Given the extreme uncertainty with every application process, SI was no different stress-wise but the process was made easier with my support system constantly telling me to think positively.
Please describe your internship experience. What were your job responsibilities?
Every day was different which is something that I loved. I was a fact-checking intern, so most days I was given assignments to proofread and fact-check. I got to contact brilliant writers and dive into the behind-the-scenes of their writing process, as well as hop on meetings with the editing team to witness the production stage of magazine articles and daily covers.
What was the greatest takeaway from your internship experience? What skills did you gain?
Fact-checking and clean writing are two obvious yet crucial skills necessary to succeed in the industry. I mastered the art of closely reading, editing, and checking stories but the greatest takeaway was the people I met and worked with. Everyone at Sports Illustrated was so accessible and kind, always willing to meet with me, providing insight and advice, and being there for whatever I needed. It makes all the difference when interns are treated like full-time employees and I felt like I was able to practice skills as someone working at SI, not just someone interning.
What project were you most proud of at the end of your internship and why?
I got two published bylines, which is something I still can't believe, but I am insanely proud of it. Here are links to the story on Chazz Woodson molding the next generation of black lacrosse players and the other on the trouble with oral birth control in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s fall. To get a story published, your pitch has to be approved and the work you do is entirely in your own hands. I pitched a very niche story topic regarding female health in college sports, I spent weeks interviewing, researching, prepping, writing and fully diving into what it's like to be a full-time reporter. The end result was a story I am proud of and happy with. I came up with the idea on my own, did all the leg work to find sources and conduct research and interviews, and turned a lot of difficult information to sort through into a published story.
How does the internship relate to your field of interest in Journalism? How has it influenced your long-term goals and career objectives?
If I could spend the next stage of my life doing what I did at Sports Illustrated, I would be happy. I always say I want to write feature stories and write about taboo or underrepresented issues in the sports industry as a full-time job, that has always been my specific passion. I got to write a feature story and write about female health in college sports which I am incredibly thankful for. That was just the work I sought out for myself, every day I was given the chance to fact-check and work with incredible people, checking stories about the WNBA, NBA, and fun topics like the milk industry and those opportunities are all things I would love to do full time. Working at SI gave me hope that no matter the size or status of a company, you can follow your specific passion and work with incredible people on a daily basis.
What advice would you give to current students hoping to apply for the same internship in the future?
Trust yourself and bet on yourself. The internship process can be daunting, at times gut-wrenching but fully trust you'll end up where you are supposed to be. I was heartbroken not getting a specific internship back in December but I couldn't be more thankful for how my life played out. It's stressful but having hope that it'll always be ok no matter what is a great thing to remember during the process.