By Corinne Arel '24
Many journalism students earn a byline during their college careers. For journalism major Matt Berg, class of '22, two of those bylines were national thanks to his reporting as a stringer for The New York Times. Berg served as the lead reporter for a news story about a major snowstorm that struck eastern Massachusetts on Jan. 30 and 31, and reported about how U.S. demonstrators rallied to express solidarity for the Ukrainian people in February.
"It has been a surreal experience, to say the least. I've learned that even if you are still a student, there are no limitations on the amount of work you can do and the places you can write if you put in the work and stay focused," Berg said.
Berg attributes his success as a journalist to his involvement with campus media. During his first year at UMass, he wrote for Amherst Wire, a digital-first student-produced publication of the Journalism Department. Berg worked as the assistant campus news editor with Amherst Wire in 2018-2019 and began writing for the op-ed section of The Massachusetts Daily Collegian during the spring of his first year. While at the Collegian, he worked his way up from assistant op-ed editor to the managing editor in 2019-2020.
He has written over 700 articles published in outlets like The Daily Hampshire Gazette and The Springfield Republican, where he interned. Berg also worked and published as a correspondent and digital producer at The Boston Globe and as a freelancer for The Daily Beast.
"Working with both The Boston Globe and The New York Times, you have such an opportunity to reach a massive amount of people that you would not get to reach in just Western Massachusetts," Berg said. "You feel the responsibility of doing a good job, and although it’s a lot of pressure, it is very rewarding."
With Berg set to graduate in May, he has dedicated his final year to writing a book that focuses on current youth-led movements, including climate change, gun control, racial justice and political organizing. Berg is currently in the process of meeting with publishers who are interested in his book.
"The book looks at why young people are especially equipped to lead these major movements and dives into the history of leftist politics in the United States," Berg said. "So many of the activists and experts I've interviewed have been directly inspired by leaders from that part of our history."
Berg was recently selected as POLITICO’s breaking news intern for summer 2022 in Washington D.C. This nationally competitive internship takes only one intern per summer.
"I’m looking forward to talking to politicians, asking them tough questions and being plugged into what’s going on in D.C. politics and national politics," Berg said.
Looking back on his college career at UMass Amherst, Berg credits his journalism professors for shaping him into the journalist he is today. "I would not be where I am now without all the professors and mentors that have helped me along the way," Berg said.
Berg had a message to share with current journalism students. "Write as much as you can. It is not student journalism it's just journalism, so take it seriously and do your best work. Don't be afraid to take chances."