Topic: College of Communication Information and Media
February 7, 2007
Amanda Getchel has become the first Ball State student to earn a paid Dow Jones Newspaper Fund business reporting internship, a prestigious program offering training and a scholarship.
Getchel is one of 12 college students selected from a national pool of minority candidates to earn the paid internship. To be considered for the program, students must take an hour-long reporting test.
She will receive a $1,000 scholarship for the fall semester. And during the summer, she will intern at the Indianapolis Business Journal.
"It's quite a big honor. I'm actually surprised but excited at the same time," Getchel said. "I'm very fortunate to have these opportunities."
Sheryl Swingley, an instructor and internship coordinator for Ball State's journalism department, said the program is a great opportunity and honor for Getchel, who is the first Ball State student to earn this Dow Jones internship.
"Having students qualify for national honors and programs is indicative of the high-quality students who attend Ball State and choose journalism as their major," Swingley said.
Prior to the start of the internship, Getchel will attend a one-week training session at New York University, paid for by Dow Jones and participating news outlets.
"I'm a little nervous because I've never been to New York before, but I will go in with an open mind," Getchel said.
Getchel began reporting for the Ball State Daily News as a freshman. The work outside of the classroom helped her gain knowledge for the internship.
"It's definitely given me experience," Getchel said. "I haven't had a lot of training in my classes yet, but the Daily News helped me become 10 times better."
Getchel first interviewed with the Indianapolis Business Journal in 2006.
"Amanda made a very good first impression with the IBJ representative," Swingley said. "The IBJ representative, in turn, asked me to encourage Amanda to take the exam because if she could qualify, IBJ wanted her as their summer Dow Jones business reporting intern."
Getchel, a sophomore from Lafayette, is majoring in journalism/news-editorial and Spanish and minoring in political science.
For more information, contact Swingley at (765) 285-8688 or sswingley@bsu.edu.
By Kim Jackson