Media Internships: Writing On The Job

PITTSBURGH—With the nationwide decline in print newspapers and an ever-changing job market, attaining a staff position within a news organization can be as challenging as the daily grind of news reporting on a tight deadline. In an effort to better inform students interested in a journalism career, the University of Pittsburgh will hold a panel discussion on securing media internships, the state of the profession, and career opportunities within the mass media.

The event, titled “Media Internships: Writing On The Job,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the first-floor ballroom of Pitt’s William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Ave., Oakland. Following the discussion, the panelists will be available for questions during a catered reception, providing an opportunity for informal career advice for attendees. The event is free and open to the public.

The discussion will be moderated by David Shribman, executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The panel will feature eight media professionals with a wide range of experiences and specializations. Local panelists include Hattie Fletcher, managing editor of Creative Nonfiction; Omar Khan, director of football and business administration for the Pittsburgh Steelers; Anne Linaberger, news director of KDKA-TV/WPCW-TV; Nick Murosky, director of public relations services for the firm LarsonO’Brien; and Sharon Walsh, founding editor of PublicSource. Other panelists include Brian Braiker, executive editor of Digiday; Mike Darling, senior editor of Men’s Health; and Jamie Stockwell, managing editor of the San Antonio Express-News.

Brief biographical information on each panelist follows:

Brian Braiker has more than a decade of experience in editing, project management, and technical writing. Prior to joining Digiday, he worked as a staff writer for Newsweek, the Guardian, and Rolling Stone. Braiker’s work also has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and PEOPLE.

A 2005 Pitt graduate, Mike Darling edits and writes for numerous Men’s Health sections, including the sex/relationship and style departments. He also has served as an editor for Southwest Airlines’ Spirit magazine as well as Backpacker, Best Life, and D Magazine.

Hattie Fletcher has been the managing editor of Creative Nonfiction since 2004. In addition to developing the quarterly publication’s editorial content, Fletcher has edited numerous nonfiction books, including the critically acclaimed True Stories, Well Told (In Fact Books, 2014).

Omar Khan works with the day-to-day management of the Steeler’s football and business administration department, which include media relations. Khan has been with the Steelers for 15 years and also has worked for the New Orleans Saints and Tulane University’s football program.

Anne Linaberger has more than 30 years of experience in broadcast journalism. As news director of KDKA-TV/WPCW-TV, she supervises 100 staffers who produce more than nine hours of news coverage each day. Previously, Linaberger worked as a director and producer for television and radio stations in Pittsburgh and West Virginia.

Nick Murosky supervises all accounts and public relations campaigns for LarsonO’Brien, a full-service media agency that specializes in the building design and construction industries. Murosky possesses more than a decade of experience in technical writing and event planning.

Jamie Stockwell oversees daily operations for the fourth-largest circulating newspaper in the state of Texas. Stockwell also worked at The Washington Post, where she was a criminal-justice reporter, covering such national news stories as the Sept.11 terrorist attacks and the 2002 Beltway Sniper.

Sharon Walsh is the founding editor of PublicSource, a nonprofit online news organization that produces in-depth investigative stories for a circulation of more than 6 million readers. Walsh also has worked as an editor and reporter for The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The panel discussion is sponsored by Pitt’s Department of English and The Pitt News. For more information, contact Thomas McWhorter, the Department of English’s internship coordinator, at thmcw@pitt.edu or 412-624-1737.

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10/19/15/amm/klf/jm