As my summer internship with Newsday Media Group wraps, I am so proud to share how invaluable the experience has been. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow in such a dynamic newsroom environment.
Since June, I have reported on crime, courts, and police for Newsday on Long Island, NY. Thanks to my editor, I hit the ground running immediately. During my first week, I collaborated with staff reporters to cover one of the biggest stories of the summer: the alleged "Gilgo Beach Serial Killer" charged with two additional murders. Sitting in the gallery that morning was unlike anything I have experienced in my career.
I spent the next nine weeks in and out of courtrooms, pressers, and phone calls. I wrote stories on everything from a stabbing at a children's amusement park to an MS-13 member accused of narco-terrorism. I also collaborated with other interns on a larger project exploring Gen Z's opinions of June's presidential debate and the upcoming election.
Outside of the newsroom, Newsday afforded me the opportunity to tour the New York Times production facility, where our paper and over two dozen local and national periodicals are printed daily. Here, I was awed watching one of my stories be plated, pressed, and printed all in less than an hour.
Working for Newsday has been a reminder of what a gift journalism truly is. The experience has sharpened my instincts, given me countless connections, and evolved my skills as a reporter and writer.
Thank you to Robert Shields, Monte Young, and Monica Quintanilla for the past several weeks. Your direction and mentorship have been the highlight of my Newsday experience. Also, thank you to Michael O'Keeffe, Grant Parpan, and Janon Fisher for showing me the ropes as I navigated New York's (not always straightforward) legal landscape for the first time.
Last but not least, I am thankful for my fellow interns, Chloe-Ryan Woolfolk, Nicolas Villamil, Jacqueline Cole, Nayden Villorente, Jasmine Sellars, Tess Ferguson, Sanjana Joshi, and Grace Keating. Thank you all for inspiring me and always having the perfect synonym when I need it.
If you are interested in reading my work from this summer, you can do so here: https://lnkd.in/eYqqAYGm