The National Press Club Journalism Institute is spotlighting the next generation of journalists, students graduating from college or Master’s programs this spring into a challenging job market, in hopes they’ll meet future bosses and colleagues here who will reach out and support them in building journalism’s future together.
Name: Carol Wright
School: American University
Location: Washington, D.C.
Founder & EIC: Nyota Magazine
Internships: Music Week, Dinner Table Doc, 9:30 Club
What have you learned from your involvement with student media on your campus?
Wright: I have learned that each storyteller has their own unique perspective and that it’s important to tell stories you’re passionate about.
What have you learned from your internship experience(s)?
Wright: I learned that you always need to be prepared, that you shouldn’t be afraid to speak up, and that you should be confident in your pitches.
What’s been your best moment in journalism?
Wright: My best moment in journalism was creating my online magazine Nyota and fully immersing myself in the world of interviewing and editing.
What’s the wackiest story you’ve worked on?
Wright: The article itself isn’t wacky but it’s the first piece that I had published for my internship at Music Week, which is a music magazine based in London and I still think it’s wacky that I got to write for a publication outside of the United States.
What do you want to accomplish in your journalism career?
Wright: This is a hard question because it feels like at this stage I want to get involved in any area of journalism that I can. One thing that I would like to accomplish is growing my magazine to the point where I can run it full-time.
If you could meet any journalist and ask for her/his advice, who would it be and why?
Wright: I would like to meet Willie Geist because I could learn a lot from him. He conducts interviews with titans in the entertainment industry but he always keeps the conversation very natural. I’d have a couple of questions for him mainly about his path to journalism, how he researches/prepares for interviews and tips he has for making sure the interview doesn’t seem incredibly staged or pre-planned.
What do you want potential employers to know about you?
Wright: I’d like potential employers to know that I am a self-starter, that I’m always looking to grow and strengthen my skills, and that I’m passionate about telling stories and I will bring that passion to work every day.
When you aren’t practicing journalism, how do you spend your time?
Wright: Reading, editing videos, taking photos and listening to music.
If you’re a senior studying journalism, or know one, we’re accepting information here for students to feature in the future. If you’re a supporter, you can contribute here to scholarships for journalism students.