BHS Grad, Marshall University Journalism Student Rebecca Turnbull to Intern for West Virginia Legislative Session
By Julie Perine on November 19, 2016 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Since graduating from Bridgeport High School in 2014, Rebecca Turnbull has been pursuing a journalism degree at Marshall University. She just achieved a milestone in her education and future career endeavors. Turnbull has been selected as one of only four West Virginia students to serve as a journalism intern for the West Virginia Legislature in the upcoming semester.
“This is a very competitive program that is well-known around Marshall and I know of many people who were both accepted and not accepted in past years, so I was very honored to be selected,” she said. “I’m excited for this new adventure and a chance to play a larger role in the state I call home.”
Turnbull’s commitment is to work fulltime - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday – in journalism endeavors including the writing of news releases, summarizing committee meetings and covering floor sessions during the 2017 Legislative Session.
She said she was prompted to pursue the application process after recruiters for the program visited one of her classes at Marshall University.
“I just felt like I needed to at least try,” she said.
Full-time sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students majoring in journalism at an accredited journalism school were eligible. Other criteria included a 3.0 grade point average – or preferred better – being skilled in AP (Associated Press) style and the ability to proofread and use Adobe Indesign.
Along with the completed application, Turnbull was required to send in a transcript, up to three samples of her recently-written work, two letters of recommendation and a character reference written by someone outside the academic setting. She also had to include a personal essay about why she wanted to be accepted into the program.
“I explained to them that I was passionate about all three areas – writing, speaking and engaging with others,” Turnbull said. “I’ve gained extensive experience in each and this internship will allow me both intensely develop those areas, as well as serve my state through my unique position as a student journalist about to enter the West Virginia workforce.”
Each student who submitted applications within the specified timeframe was given the opportunity to interview for the position. Turnbull’s interview was late-Wednesday morning at the West Virginia Capitol Building. She was advised Wednesday afternoon that she had been accepted into the program.
“It was a very exciting day for me, to say the least,” she said.
In addition to the valuable experience itself, Turnbull hopes the internship will help her decide upon the direction she chooses for her journalism career.
“I’m majoring in both broadcast journalism and public relations, as well as minoring in constitutional democracy, so in short, I’m not sure what I’d like to do yet,” she said. “After reporting on the office of the president here (at Marshall) for the student paper ‘The Parthenon,’ I’ve found that I really love tackling the stories that no one wants to cover.”
Turnbull said she’s always up for a challenge and covering the legislature day after day during the upcoming session will help her decide if that’s the challenge she’s looking for.
Turnbull's high school journalism teacher, Alice Rowe, said she has utmost confidence in her former student's abilities.
"I can't think of a better student to intern for the legislature," Rowe said. "Rebecca was always a joy to work with and at the conclusion of this job she will be able to add another star to her growing list of accomplishments."
