The National Press Club Journalism Institute is spotlighting the next generation of journalists, students who graduated from college or Master’s programs this spring into a challenging job market. We hope they’ll meet future bosses and colleagues here, who will reach out and support them in building journalism’s future together.
Name: Sarah Hayner
School: Tarleton State University
Location: Stephenville, TX
Student media: Editor-in-chief, Texan News Service
Wackiest story: The mysterious death of Sandra Steele
What have you learned from your involvement with student media on your campus?
Hayner: That it is very essential. The news never sleeps and students deserve to know what is happening all around them. I’ve learned that students and teachers enjoy reading the news from other students learning and getting real world experience in it all.
What have you learned from your internship experience(s)?
Hayner: I’ve learned more than I ever thought I would. I have gotten to experience real world investigative journalism. I know how to report, anchor, produce and edit a whole newspaper. It has really given me all the skills I need to continue to grow in this field.
What’s been your best moment in journalism?
Hayner: My best moment in journalism is when I broke a story for the first time, and newspapers in the region were reaching out to me for information about it. It felt good.
What’s the wackiest story you’ve worked on?
Hayner: You just need to read it and it will explain the answer to your question.
What do you want to accomplish in your journalism career?
Hayner: I want to write compelling new stories and be known as a go-to figure in the journalism world. Also, I would love to eventually be an anchor for “Good Morning America.”
If you could meet any journalist and ask for her/his advice, who would it be and why?
Hayner: Chris Cuomo! I just want to know how he does it, how he got so successful and got so good at his job. He is so compelling to watch.
What do you want potential employers to know about you?
Hayner: I want them to know that even though I have been doing this for a total of one year, that I am very experienced and a hard worker. People base experience by years, but when you have as great of mentors as I do, you feel like you’ve learned 10 years worth of information and skill in one whole year.
When you aren’t practicing journalism, how do you spend your time?
Hayner: I work full-time at H-E-B while going to school full-time as well. When I’m not practicing journalism, going to school or working, I am usually watching movies or traveling.
To support journalism students, contribute here to scholarships.
Tags: Class of 2020
Love the tenacity!