News & Highlights
Marsalie MacKenzie is a Surface Warfare Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy. Since 2010, she has worked at the strategic and operational levels of naval staff, deploying on maritime security and drug interdiction operations in the Gulf of Oman and the Western Caribbean. Currently based in Washington, D.C., she works as a member of the defence liaison staff at the Embassy of Canada and is completing her Master of Professional Studies in Journalism at Georgetown University. Originally from Ottowa, Canada, MacKenzie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Master of Arts in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Marsalie MacKenzie has proven herself to be an outstanding student and communications professional since starting the program in the Spring of 2017. While working full time, she achieved the highest GPA of all of the journalism students in the past year. We are proud to present her with this year's Outstanding Student award in recognition of her exceptional academic record and commitment to profession.
Jarrad Henderson is a multimedia producer at USA Today. He is an award-winning video producer, visual journalist, and filmmaker who has served as a 2018 fellow with the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute to develop a digital resource guide for visual journalists to help them bridge the gap between editorial and documentary film-making. Before joining USA Today, he worked at the Detroit Free Press and was named the 2014 Multimedia Photographer of the Year by the Michigan Press Photographer Association. He has a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University and a master's degree from the University of Missouri. He is chair of the National Association of Black Journalists - Visual Task Force. Jarrad Henderson has shown great dedication to the journalism program, both in and outside the classroom. His students have praised his hands-on teaching style and his strong mentoring skills. He serves the broader journalism role through his leadership role at the NABJ and his role as a Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute fellow. It is our pleasure to honor such an enterprising and enthusiastic faculty member who has made a difference in the lives of the journalists -- professional and student -- who have crossed his path.
Congratulations to this year's Tropaia Award winners for the journalism program:
Emily Codik and Alan Bjerga!
Emily Codik is a summer 2017 graduate of the journalism program who works as an Assistant Editor for the Weekend and the Going Out Guide at The Washington Post. Prior to joining The Post, she worked as the arts editor for Washingtonian magazine and a restaurant critic and editor for Miami New Times. Throughout her time in the program, she was an exemplary student and was named one of the Hoya Professional 30, an initiative that highlights individuals who demonstrate leadership, potential, and excellence in their fields. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she earned a degree in art history from Duke University.
Alan Bjerga covers global food policy for Bloomberg News where he has worked for the last twelve years and is the author of the book Endless Appetites: How the Commodities Casino Creates Hunger and Unrest. In 2010 he served as president of the National Press Club and was president of the North American Agricultural Journalists in 2010-2011. He has been recognized for his work with awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, the New York Press Club, the Kansas Press Association, the North American Agricultural Journalists, and the Overseas Press Club. He has commented on food and agriculture for Bloomberg Television, National Public Radio, the BBC and PBS Newshour, among other programs.
Nakea Simon
Intern of the Month
September 2017
Twitter: @NakeaSimon
“This internship gave me the confidence I needed to confirm that this is exactly what I want to do. I aspire to be a multimedia journalist and tell stories around the world. At [Maryland Public Television], I was able to assist in producing video for different departments in Maryland that catered to their specific needs and to tell their stories.”
We are excited to feature Nakea Simon as our August intern of the month. This summer, she’s been interning with Maryland Public Television (MPT), where’s had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and apply her journalism skills to different departmental needs. Read on to find out more about her time at MPT.
MPS Journalism: What company are you interning with and what are you responsible for?
NS: Maryland Public Television. I am responsible for logging tape for interviews, editing packages, and researching clients.
MPS Journalism: Why were you interested in working with Maryland Public Broadcasting and has the experience matched your expectations?
NS: I was interested in working with MPT because I wanted to grow my skills as a multimedia journalist and I knew MPT would provide me with the opportunities to work with leading professionals in the business to help me grow and learn. The experience thus far has definitely matched my expectations.
MPS Journalism: What is your favorite part of the internship?
NS: I got the opportunity to log tape for Chesapeake Collectibles Season 8. That was exciting for me because I got to be on set while everything was happening and be a part of the action. The experience grew my confidence as a journalist.
MPS Journalism: Tell us about your favorite project you’ve worked on so far on at Maryland Public Broadcasting.
NS: My favorite project thus far is a project I am currently working on for Maryland’s Teacher of the Year Program which showcases outstanding teachers. I have the opportunity to help edit packages to make sure each teacher’s own personal story is told in less than a minute. It gives me the opportunity to be able to edit a clear and concise video that is interesting and captures the individual teacher personality. I love it!
MPS Journalism: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about journalism while interning?
NS: What is most surprising to me is that as a journalist even though you have one specific role, you still have to wear all many hats.
MPS Journalism: How has the internship shaped some of your career goals and aspirations in the field?
NS: This internship gave me the confidence I needed to confirm that this is exactly what I want to do. I aspire to be a multimedia journalist and tell stories around the world. At MPT I was able to assist in producing video for different departments in Maryland that catered to their specific needs and to tell their stories.
MPS Journalism: How did you secure your internship?
NS: I applied on http://www.mpt.org/about/careers/internships/
MPS Journalism: What advice do you have for MPJO students looking to land an internship?
NS: The advice I will give to students applying to land an internship is what our Program Director Gina Garcia always says: “don’t stop applying for opportunities until you get the yes you want.” Use the resources Georgetown provides and create a free website of your own where internship coordinators or employers can see your work.
MPS Journalism: What’s been your favorite class so far in the program and why?
NS: Audio Production! This was my favorite class so far because I was able to be very creative in how I wanted my audio projects to sound. I was able to attend fun activities, meet new people, and excel in editing on Adobe Audition.
MPS Journalism: Why did you choose the Georgetown MPS Journalism program?
NS: I chose Georgetown MPS Journalism program because I knew at Georgetown I will be able to advance in my journalistic skills, push myself to try new things, and network with likeminded people who love journalism.