By Nikia Burdick
Cassandra "Cassie" McGrath, class of '21, is a Rowley, MA native, a journalism and political science double major earning a certificate in international relations, and the news editor at the Daily Collegian. But it has been internships that allowed her to gain confidence and experience in the world of professional journalism.
As the current podcast intern for Frontline PBS, McGrath works on The Frontline Dispatch podcast and other podcast series, conducting research, writing scripts and doing post-production.
"The people are brilliant and dedicated to pursuing the truth through storytelling," said McGrath.
McGrath previously interned at the Daily Hampshire Gazette and at WGBH in Boston in 2019. During the Spring 2020 semester, she was the recipient of two scholarships from the Journalism Department: the Scott J. Bacherman Internship Award for journalism students who secured internships in media fields and the Chester Weinerman Scholarship for students who work at the Massachusetts Daily Collegian.
"I’m incredibly grateful to the donors who made the awards possible and to the Journalism Department for their endless support in helping me reach my goals," McGrath said. "These scholarships have allowed me to continue pursuing journalism."
McGrath has pursued opportunities outside of Massachusetts too, including the 2020 SBS in DC program and the 2018 Oxford Summer Seminar at Trinity College.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, McGrath had to adjust to the new online internship environment. She was nervous to start the internships at The American Interest and Sen. Warren’s press office knowing she would be working for two offices in Washington, D.C., from her living room in Rowley.
"While the change from in-person to remote work was a shock at first, my skills grew immensely. I had to learn to work both independently and in teams while still trying to create close connections with my co-workers despite never meeting them in person," said McGrath.
Even on Zoom, the experiences have been positive. "I think the most important thing I learned was confidence," she said. "Before my internships last summer, I struggled with feeling a sense of belonging in a workplace. I was afraid to speak up and had trouble advocating for myself. However, remote work has helped me become a more confident and capable worker."