Journalism Student Gains Experience as Intern for Department
Myron Thompson worked as a PR/journalism and editorial assistant in the Department of Africana Studies for the 2023 summer semester. We first assigned Thompson to focus on an audit of the department’s website. The goal was to determine the necessary changes that needed to be made to make the website more visually appealing and to improve the website’s capacity to publish newsletters/articles.
Thompson was also responsible for generating story leads and following up on those leads, especially around the Africana studies department’s professors’ research. The stories focused on the research of the professors and how the research helped to inform or resolve issues in Knoxville and in the Tennessee area, more generally.
Also acting as an assistant editor, Thompson reviewed and revised articles from the previous semester that had not yet been published. Thompson also acquired several photo assets through his skilled use of a camera, which he had learned to use while attending UT.
With the summer semester having come to an end and the internship having concluded, Thompson is currently keeping his options open for employment. Thompson specified an interest in investigative reporting and hopes to one day change the world with his journalism.
“I hope that one day I can take my skills to the next level and hopefully find topics to cover that will help to inform and improve the lives of those around me,” Thompson said.
We are incredibly grateful for the work done by Thompson over the summer and hope that Thompson continues on to greater heights. We would recommend Thompson to any employer wanting a diligent and intelligent public relations or journalism professional. If anyone is interested in learning more, contact the department at africana@utk.edu.