What's It Like To Be That Major? What's It Like To Be That Major?
Description of each major in the communication field.
Learning in All Seasons: Summer and Winter Terms Learning in All Seasons: Summer and Winter Terms
Information about summer and winter terms.
Real Life, Right Now: The Alumni Experience Real Life, Right Now: The Alumni Experience
Alumni talk about post-college experiences.
What Class is That? What Class is That?
A detailed description your upcoming classes.
Real Life, Right Now cont'd...
Amber Benson's Experience
Benson enjoys each new assignment. With each story, “ I meet exciting people, whether it’s someone who has accomplished something remarkable or a group of elected officials and engaged citizens working together to improve their communities,” Benson said. Benson likes all aspects of her job. Her knowledge for southeastern Wisconsin has expanded with each story. “The research required to know what questions to ask interviewees and write good stories exposes me to facts and subject matters I normally wouldn’t delve into,” Benson said. Although fairly new to her first job after graduation, Benson said her biggest accomplishment has been “keeping my editor happy by turning in clean, accurate copy.”

Advice from one Journalist to Another

Amber suggests that students planning to become reporters should write for the Royal Purple in order to build a portfolio. “Having good clips is essential to landing an interview for a job in the journalism field,” Benson said. She also said to personalize your cover letter for each publication. A cover letter needs to “express why you want to work for them,” Benson said. Best copies of clips and a well-organized resume should be given to interested employers. “My editor told me the organization and appearance of my portfolio impressed her, so every little thing helps.” And some final advice, Amber says to submit your portfolio to every publication you’re interested in working for, whether they’re hiring or not. Benson interned with the political science department with U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin in the fall of 2006. She also interned with Assemblyman Kim Hixson in the spring of 2008.

Sara Siekierski
Finding a Job

Sara Siekierski sent out many resumes while she was in school, but didn’t hear anything of significance back until a few weeks after graduation, when she got a job offer from the company she had interned with the previous semester, Beloit Daily News. Sara took two internships during her college years: one with WKOW-TV in Madison during the fall of her senior year, and the other with Beloit Daily News in the spring. She speaks highly of her experiences with internships, saying “Both internships were invaluable and taught me so much about the professional communication world.”





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