Juel Grange - Journalism student, Magazine concentration
Many college students don't have the opportunity for even one internship, but Columbia College Chicago journalism student Juel Grange already has had several.
Grange, a senior who has interned for both magazines and broadcast media, said her experience in Columbia's urban environment drove her to seek experiences at major news outlets -- such as CNN in New York City, where she worked one summer.
"It helped me not be afraid to get my feet wet, that was the main thing," she said. "It shaped me and gave me the confidence I needed to approach larger corporations."
Columbia’s hands-on classes helped Grange hone her journalistic skills. As part of Writing and Reporting II, for example, she covered major public affairs stories alongside professional reporters for Chicago news outlets.
One of her most memorable classes was her advanced magazine writing class, in which she had the opportunity to cover Haitian immigrants.
"It was valuable because that was what real reporters do, get out and make it happen," she said. "They don't take no for an answer. It helped build my determination to inform everyone."
Grange put classroom skills to work during her editorial internships at Time Out Chicago magazine, where she gained published clips, and Niche Media, which publishes a number of magazines. At CNN, she learned how a broadcast newsroom operated.
"If I was doing an overnight shift I was going to work directly with anchors and producers and be in the control room and be on set," she said.
This semester, she will be interning at N’Digo, a weekly print and online publication that describes itself as a “magapaper’’ that covers race- and ethnic-related issues and culture.
Grange said her Columbia education served as an excellent foundation for her internships and her upcoming job search. Without the skills gained here, she said, she couldn’t have approached professional experiences with nearly as much confidence.
