Meet Brianna Silva, a senior Journalism and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies double major, who transferred to UMass Amherst as a sophomore. Learn how with each class, she found confidence in her abilities and fell in love with storytelling.
How would you describe your time as a Journalism major, and how has the Journalism Department helped prepare you for your future career?
Even though my time as a Journalism major was shorter compared to other students because I transferred in fall 2019, I feel as if I've been in the Journalism Department for so much longer. I found a home here, where I felt safe enough to explore and embrace my interests, which allowed me to challenge myself more and interact with new people. I came into the department as a shy and introverted person, which I still am, but now I can confidently pitch stories I care about and advocate for them.
Which classes, professors or experiences particularly stand out for you and why?
Three classes and instructors come to mind when I think about experiences that stand out during my time in the Journalism major: Newswriting and Reporting with Mo Turner, Video Content Creation with Greeley Kyle, and Longform Narrative Journalism with Kathy Roberts Forde. I was challenged a lot as a journalist and often pushed to mental and physical exhaustion, but each of these instructors inspired me to work harder and get outside my comfort zone. Each class and instructor made me fall deeper in love with the craft that is journalism and multimedia storytelling.
What are your points of pride, accomplishments or the skills you developed that you're proud of the most?
While I'm proud of how strong my writing and multimedia storytelling skills have become, I'm most proud of my newfound confidence in my abilities as a journalist and leader. I'm a completely different person from who I was when I first came to UMass.
While a Journalism major, what is your favorite memory or inspiring moment?
I have so many wonderful memories of being a Journalism major, but my favorite is when I pitched my first story for Amherst Wire. I remember feeling so nervous when I attended my first meeting because I didn't know anyone there, and I didn't have that much experience writing at the time. I joined the entertainment section because I'm passionate about film, but when everyone there went around pitching stories they wanted to cover, I began to panic internally. I remember thinking that everyone's stories were so much better than mine, and no one would care about the things that I want to write. So when Trevor Wilson, who was the entertainment editor at the time, asked me if I had any ideas, I pitched a review on "IT Chapter Two," the sequel of the 2017 Stephen King horror movie. To my surprise, he loved the idea, and we quickly created a deadline for my piece. Even though this moment seems small, it had a huge impact on my time as a Journalism major because it was the first time I had pitched a film-related story and was encouraged to pursue it. This first pitch gave me enough confidence not only to embrace my interest in film journalism and criticism but to push myself to pitch to other publications outside of UMass.
Which student media organizations or university clubs were you a part of, and how have you been involved?
I joined Amherst Wire and The Rebirth Project when I transferred here in 2019, mostly because I thought it would be good to check it out and give it a try. I attended weekly meetings and, eventually, published some of my creative writing at Rebirth and some film reviews at the Wire. When I became one of the Managing Editors and later the Editor-in-Chief for Amherst Wire, I gained more responsibilities and learned more about what happens behind the scenes and what it takes to publish articles and maintain the website. My time in both media organizations gave me more hands-on learning experiences outside of the classroom that helped me grow as a journalist and gave me more confidence in my abilities.
What words of wisdom do you have for the next class of journalism students?
Do what makes you happy. During my time in Amherst Wire, working with brilliant and inspiring journalists like Jon Kermah '20, Trevor Wilson '20, Joanna Buoniconti '21, Julia Donohue '21, and our amazing team of editors, I've learned that journalism is not a fixed path; it's ever-changing. Just do what makes you happy rather than wasting time comparing yourself to others. It doesn't matter what you look like or what others think of you – if you're passionate about something, pursue it. Liberate yourself by prioritizing your happiness.
What are your hopes and aspirations or post-graduation plans?
I recently applied to graduate programs to continue to strengthen my skills as a journalist and multimedia storyteller. I'm now happy to announce that I've just started my first class as a journalism grad student at Emerson College! The 13-month accelerated Journalism (MA) program begins in the summer with online classes and in-person classes during the fall/spring semesters, so I'm looking forward to being on campus and continuing my work as a freelance film critic.
What is your dream job?
I'm the kind of person who loves learning and always wants to do multiple things at once, so this has never been an easy question for me. But my dream one day is to make movies, documentaries and work in a college as a film studies professor.