Isabella Schlact

 Do you remember your time in the MD newspaper club, and if so, what is your best memory?

I do! I remember working on the student newspapers in each division, back to interviewing Mr. Seivold about the new clock tower for The Funfare (Berkeley’s Lower Division newspaper). On the Bugle, I really enjoyed putting together our first holiday issue. I just found a copy of it on my computer (attached), and it’s funny to see our article on trendy gifts back then. Guessing Middle Division isn’t clamoring for Wii U games anymore, but I think the Nike socks have stood the test of time. Have they? 

You were the youngest editor of The Fanfare. What was your favorite story? 

My junior year, I covered student and faculty reactions to the mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. Since Parkland is only a few hours from Tampa, there were Berkeley students who knew survivors. It was an emotional experience to cover, but I was so grateful to be able to share such empathetic and passionate perspectives from our community.

Throughout my time on The Fanfare, I counted down the days until our April Fools’ Issue every year. I loved coming up with silly ideas and learning how to use Photoshop and InDesign. I remember losing track of time on layout for it on more than one occasion! When I arrived at the University of Pennsylvania’s admitted students’ weekend, I was thrilled to find a publication that made “April Fools’” issues year-round: the Pennsylvania Punch Bowl, one of the oldest college satire magazines in the country. I’m now in my second year as Co-Editor-in-Chief, along with two of my best friends. 

Where are you now, and what are you doing?

I’m a senior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Psychology and minoring in Creative Writing and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, and I’m working on an Honors Thesis in Psychology. I’ve also served as a Curriculum Advisor for The Unscripted Project, a non-profit that brings improv acting classes to Philadelphia schools.

In 2020, I wrote for Penn’s newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian, where my favorite story featured the inventors of the rubella and rotavirus vaccines. While I enjoyed the work, I decided to shift to the Punch Bowl full-time, which turned out well when I became Co-Editor-in-Chief a few months later!

Have you won any awards for journalism?

While I haven’t focused on competing for journalism awards specifically, my experience has led me to some exciting opportunities. I’m honored to begin a Bassini Writing Apprenticeship at Penn this spring, focusing on screenwriting and fiction. Despite the difference in genre, my journalism and satire experiences were definitely helpful during the selection process. 

I was also an intern at Everytown for Gun Safety a couple of summers ago, and I was able to tell them during the application process that covering “After Parkland” was one of the main things that led me to their organization. 

How has journalism shaped who you are today?

My work in journalism has taught me to be a better writer. It’s all about being concise! Learning to “kill your darlings” for a story is a valuable skill across all genres. I’ve learned how to have conversations with anyone, even when I’d otherwise be intimidated. When there’s information you need for a story, you don’t have time to be starstruck or to ruminate about how you come across. Journalism has also strengthened my sense of justice: it’s up to reporters to show readers, viewers and listeners the truth.

Are you going to pursue a career in journalism?

At this point in time, I’m looking more at a career in the entertainment field than journalism. 

If so, what advice would you give to aspiring journalists?

I’d tell aspiring journalists to listen to where your passions lead you. When I joined the Bugle and then the Fanfare, I didn’t know where those interests would take me, but I knew I really enjoyed working on each of them. If I hadn’t worked on these publications, I might not have discovered the passions for satirical journalism and graphic design that led me to the Punch Bowl. Take note of what you enjoy. You may be surprised when those skills or interests come up later.