Emma Mangione ‘20, a Journalism and Communication Studies graduate, faced unprecedented hurdles entering the workforce amid a global pandemic and the rampant job and wage insecurity that accompanied it. Looking back, she says she now recognizes the many ways her time at URI prepared her for overcoming such obstacles. She currently works as a news producer with NBC 10 WJAR in Providence. “Whatever you hear a news anchor say on TV, I write it and I stack and order a newscast, so when you see the flow of a newscast, I’m helping to decide what comes first and what goes in the show,” she says of her position. As a lifelong lover of writing, she entered URI as a Journalism major taking classes from the get-go. Once she got a feel for it, she says, “The journalism program at URI is what made me fall in love with it and is the reason why I stayed.”

Mangione says she is grateful for the foundations she was able to build in the Harrington School of Communication and Media in the practice of journalism — including what it means to be a journalist and how to be true to your reporting. The experience she was able to gain outside of the classroom to apply these foundations was pivotal for her success as a graduate as well. “The journalism program is great because it encourages you to do internships in that field of study and that’s the most important thing you can have,” she explains. Case in point: while a student at URI, she interned with Channel ABC6 in Providence for a full year — and this opportunity led to her first post-graduation position. She notes that the impact of these experiences was especially highlighted during the pandemic: “It was a lot, but it’s really rewarding knowing that you’re helping people get the information they absolutely need to know, and it’s concise and understandable.” Ensuring that the public had access the most recent, relevant, and accurate facts during times like those demonstrated the value and nobility of a career in journalism.

For students considering a path to journalism, Mangione recommends opening your local newspaper or watching your local TV news station to get a real feel of the field. She feels that your reaction to watching and reading those stories serves as a great indicator for if it’s right for you. Prospective students should be able to see themselves as interested in telling those stories, or even be thinking about how they would tell them differently. And the next most important thing? “Internships, internships, internships,” she says. Going forward, Mangione sees herself continuing to deliver the news the public needs to hear. “The reason you’re there is to deliver everything that the public needs to know to keep them safe, informed, and going about their day.” she says.

~ Written by Sabrinna Fogarty