Autumn Valdes
At the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University, I was able to learn so much about the immigration policies and detention centers in New Jersey.
I had the chance to hear from local voices about the impact this was having on families in the community. I also learned about the attacks on press freedoms that were happening and how journalists were staying safe and protecting themselves.
I learned how to operate and edit on new software like Mailchimp, and post articles on Medium. One of my favorite parts was attending events like the Collaborative Journalism Summit in Philadelphia, helping to facilitate a workshop with Pro News Coaches, and learning more about local news ecosystems from local reporters in the area.
My internship advisor, Cassandra Etienne, really helped me grow as a writer and reporter. I loved being able to attend the center’s virtual press briefings with her, to hear voices in New Jersey who were interested in learning more about the policies in their area. It showed me the true importance of local news and independent media.
And lastly here’s a link to one of my articles I published on Medium: Read Autumn’s published article
During the school year I have agreed to continue working with the center, so I’m excited to keep you all updated on any more articles I am able to publish in the future!