This summer, some of our Journalism students had the opportunity to intern with local journalistic media companies. Here is what two of them had to say as they reflected on their experiences:

Connor McNeely (’23)

“After graduating in May 2023, I accepted an internship offer with the Greensboro News & Record for this summer. For the past month I have had an opportunity to work as a breaking news reporter for the News & Record covering all kinds of stories in the city of Greensboro.

My first assignment came on my second day as an intern. I was sent that morning to report on a community meeting on future plans for the downtown business district. While at the meeting, I met several members of the city council, important business leaders, and the mayor of Greensboro, Nancy Vaughan. When I told Ms. Vaughan that I was new to Greensboro and was attempting to find new stories, she was quick to let me know that I should attend the city council meeting that night and bring popcorn with me. A Greensboro firefighter had been fired by the city weeks prior and he would be attending the city council meeting that night, along with protestors and supporters of the decision.

After the morning meeting, I went back to the office and pitched the story to my editor, who assigned me to attend the meeting with a veteran reporter, Kenwyn Caranna, who would be covering the proposed city budget. That night, I watched as residents of Greensboro attended the meeting en masse and affirmed the city’s decision to terminate the firefighter. I wrote a front-page story on the issue that ran the next day. That was my introduction to the city of Greensboro.

Since that night I have written many more stories covering the development of the city’s different industries, matters of the city council such as zoning and city planning, as well as a longer profile on a woman who has outlived a five-year terminal prognosis from a rare lung disease. My experiences at the Old Gold & Black and the instruction that I received from Wake Forest’s journalism staff have given me the skills I need to be a professional journalist.

I am hoping to continue developing clips so that I can find another opportunity to work as a journalist. I am very thankful that the News & Record accepted me as an intern and gave me the chance to fulfill my dream of working at a newspaper. My professors Phoebe Zerwick, Barry Yeoman, Justin Catanoso, and Ivan Weiss have constantly encouraged me and prepared me for the remarkable opportunities that I have had. I can’t thank them enough.”

Christa Dutton (’24)