HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 26, 2011 – Katie Searles, a rising senior majoring in communication with a concentration in electronic media at High Point University, received the exclusive opportunity of working as an intern at her local news station, WJZ-TV, a CBS affiliate in Baltimore.
As part of her responsibilities, Searles got hands-on experience by setting up interviews that reporters used in coverage of their stories. She also took news tips from callers, and sought out local stories that affected the Baltimore area. She also posted WJZ’s news coverage on their website.
Searles says she learned a great deal from the daily procedures and challenges of working in a newsroom, as well as the importance of working toward deadlines.
“Learning about the daily procedures of the newsroom in a classroom setting is entirely different than experiencing it first-hand – in an actual newsroom setting,” says Searles. “Everyone at WJZ was so welcoming to me during my internship and wanted to help me gain as much real world experience as possible.”
Searles says many of her courses at HPU prepared her for success in the newsroom – specifically Studio Production, Video Journalism and Convergent Journalism.
Searles feels privileged to work alongside the professionals she grew up watching on her hometown news station, WJZ, which was once anchored by Oprah Winfrey.
“I have grown up watching the producers and reporters cover Baltimore’s top stories,” Searles says. “It’s amazing to see the stories unfold all in a day’s time, and I love how each day is different on the job.”
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.℠ HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students from 51 countries and 46 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report at No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South. Forbes.com ranks HPU in the top 7 percent among “America’s Best Colleges.” Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. The university offers 50 undergraduate majors, 43 undergraduate minors and 14 graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at highpoint.edu.
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Pam Haynes
Communication Specialist
336-841-9055
[email protected]