Name: Gabriella Salas
Internship, Co-op, or Research Site: Baltimore Witness
Position Title: Writing Intern
Major or Program: Media & Communication Studies, English Literature
Current Class Level: Senior
Work Term: Spring 2022
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
I intern at Baltimore Witness which is a non-profit website that marries journalism and data transparency. My typical day involves attending in-person hearings and trials and reporting on those cases. We cover non-fatal shootings and homicides in Baltimore City. We do this with the hope of delivering transparency about the Baltimore City criminal justice system. Aside from attending hearings and trials, I also interview prosecutors and attorneys, study trends regarding crimes and trials, and I write articles for the website.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I received an email from Rebecca Adelman last semester about this opportunity and sent our Editor-in-Chief, Trina Antoine, my cover letter, resume, and sample writing. I submitted during late December and heard back fairly quickly. I had one interview and was hired on the spot.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
I have enjoyed the writing process and attending on-going trials. Some of these cases can be very interesting and seeing how the criminal justice system plays differently everyday is fascinating.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I think being able to give the residents of Baltimore a view of what's going on inside the criminal justice system is very eye-opening. Reform can't happen unless we know exactly what's going on.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
I would say that whether you're interested in journalism like me or interested in learning more about the criminal justice system, to definitely know how to write well, to know a little bit about the criminal justice system in general, and it doesn't hurt to pay attention to on-going trends in the city you're interested in. I think having that background knowledge is very helpful, especially when you're spending all of your time writing about it.
Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
Baltimore Witness has allowed me to see a different side of journalism. It's not driven to make flashy headlines, but rather to report the facts and deliver transparency to its community.
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