Jenna reignites her love for journalism
Internship Reflection
Fall 2023
By: Jenna Zaza
There’s a strong and noticeable difference between the journalism one does inside a classroom and that inside a real-world newsroom at an organization like WSHU.
In my experience, a journalism class is a controlled environment where you have the flexibility to complete any given assignment, which lacks the sense of urgency in newsroom journalism. This repetitive loop of stories for class became extremely monotonous and lackluster at times, making me question if journalism is a profession that I want to pursue, especially since I have long-standing passions in the field of entrepreneurship. But my internship at WSHU reignited the spark and reminded me why I chose journalism as my major in the first place– it’s about the people and their stories to the world.
On the first day, I was thrust into the chaotic and timely environment of a newsroom. As soon as I sat down on the chair, my editor gave me the task of finding my first pitch, which caught me off guard since I was used to the lax circumstances of a journalism school. Yet this shock didn’t derail me; in fact, it did the opposite. It lit a fire under me, motivating and exciting me to explore the arts and culture scene in WSHU’s coverage area. From covering government initiatives to aiding the local music industry, speaking with an eccentric collections manager about their new meteorite acquisition, and to exploring how an artist is using artificial intelligence to address the technology’s inherent racial and gender biases, this experience has fueled my enthusiasm even more to venture out into the industry.
The spark in journalism isn’t necessarily about creating effective change through the stories one covers or equipping the public with crucial skills and information but rather it lies in the lives of the people we speak to and the privilege one gets in being able to share their story– at least for me it is. Sitting down with a person that I wouldn’t ordinarily meet such as Stefan Nicolescu, the collections manager for meteoritics and mineralogy, or Stephanie Dinkins, a transmedia artist weaponizing AI in the nurturing of technological systems, and hearing their story or what makes them tick as a person is ultimately what is so magical of being a journalist.
Yet, the internship wasn’t without its challenges and limitations. Since only a 1 credit internship (4 hours per week) would fit into my course schedule, branching out of arts and culture reporting, especially into areas like long-form investigative stories or business reporting, was not realistically feasible due to the time constraints. This left me yearning for further experimentation and exploration in a wider array of story genres and formats. Nonetheless, specializing in arts and culture articles honed these specific section-related skills such as navigating the fine line between a preview and a press release for an event. The internship was built upon the foundational skills of journalism all while sparking a newfound interest in pursuing radio or audio journalism.
Before this internship at WSHU, I hadn't explored audio journalism, making me akin to a freshly hatched chick just entering the realm of radio journalism. The experiences of writing cut and copies, readers, and recording my own wrap revealed a potential journalism career path I had yet to consider. Audio journalism with its punchy, vivid lines and its power to connect with listeners has a hypnotic element that traditional print journalism does not have, which inclined me with the desire to continue with WSHU during my time at Stony Brook and hopefully work a myriad of radio and print news organizations such as the BBC Radio and The Guardian.
My time interning at WSHU was truly an unforgettable, insightful, and amazing beginning chapter in my journalistic career. I am immensely grateful for the skills I acquired and honed during my time at WSHU, but more significantly, for the reaffirmation it provided concerning my intent to pursue journalism. These lessons will remain a guiding light as I continue on to the next phase of my journey and beyond.