During Shaina Mishkin’s college hunt, she was pleased to find that UMass Amherst was one of the few public schools with a Journalism program. At first, she was intimidated by the size of UMass, but then quickly realized that there is no better place to be to pursue a journalism degree than a place that feels like its own community. She loved how things were happening around her at any given moment.
Mishkin graduated from UMass Amherst in 2014 with a degree in Journalism, as well as a certificate in Film. While at UMass, she spent most of her free time as an active assistant multimedia editor and photo editor for the arts section in The Massachusetts Daily Collegian. She also worked for University Relations as a student photoblogger for their blog “ViewMass.”
“I loved being able to major in Journalism and work alongside professors who helped me. I went from being a girl who kind of liked writing to a professional journalist, and I have the UMass Journalism Department to thank for that,” Mishkin said.
After graduation, Mishkin pursued a job at MassLive as an entertainment reporter, where she covered local music, food and culture. A few of her favorite assignments while at MassLive were her “House of the Week” column, her coverage of local proms and the Big E, and most memorable was her coverage of the contest where she went around the state taste-testing cupcakes and chicken wings.
Mishkin currently works as a reporter at Barron’s, the world’s premier investing publication. She reports on the U.S residential real estate market, including industry news and trends that impact home builders, buyers, sellers, and the broader economy. She also manages Barron's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.
Although she never had a background in math and going into the investment world was intimidating at first, she felt that the most important thing was her willingness to learn, challenge herself, and ask for help when needed. “I have been lucky enough to work in places that support that," Mishkin said.
Mishkin is thankful for all the great professors within the Journalism Department. She took many classes with Steve Fox and found Investigative Journalism to be one that stood out. The Boston Globe featured an article Mishkin co-wrote with another student investigating sexual assaults on campuses. That is one of her favorite accomplishments, and she felt they could not have done it without Professor Fox’s support.
“Always have your ear open for an opportunity. When I would cover stories, it wasn’t just because I had an assignment or commitment. I would walk around and look for opportunities to take pictures. That helped me build a better portfolio," Mishkin said.
This profile was written as a part of the 2021 Alumni Spotlight Series by students in the Writing for Public Relations course.