Intern Blog

A friend of mine that previously interned for VOA told me that I would be very well versed in international policy by the time I left – they were undoubtedly correct.

Given VOA’s focus on international news I’ve learned about various different countries, languages and world issues, some of which I didn’t even know existed prior to my internship. Every day is different and has required me to pick up on things quickly in order to report on a variety of issues and places. I believe it is safe to say that along with my reporting skills my understanding of world affairs has seen growth.

As a News Center intern, I work on multiple stories a day, including those I pitch and conduct interviews for myself. From writing articles to creating radio and video content, New Center interns are encouraged to explore various forms of media throughout their time with VOA. Recently, I did a standup for VOA’s social media team, which was new for me as I normally tend to stay off-screen for my reporting. I found the experience to push me out of my comfort zone a bit, which I am grateful for.

I enjoy being able to practice and learn about different forms of media at VOA and my time at the organization has been incredibly enriching.

About Laiyla: I am going into my third year at the University of California Irvine, majoring in comparative literature and minoring in political science. I am currently the Editor in Chief of UCI’s official student newspaper New University. I have previously been published in the San Jose Mercury News, along with a handful of school publications, and formerly co-hosted a show at UCI’s radio station KUCI.

Before I started my internship this summer, I was well aware of VOA’s commitment to upholding a high journalistic standard. I always knew that I gravitated toward writing and storytelling, but recently realized that I wanted to pursue a career in Journalism as I got older. A family friend encouraged me to look at the work VOA does and to find a work experience that would prepare me for the industry, but what I ended up taking away from the summer here was way more enriching than I anticipated.

Throughout my time here, I have worked on visual content projects, writing scripts, and pitching ideas for stories that can be shaped into a multimedia format. News-wise, It’s been a hectic time, to say the least, and that turbulence comes with quick scriptwriting and a dynamic medium to catch readers up to speed about what they have seemingly missed. This fast-paced environment has been so enjoyable to take part in and the coverage I have had the privilege of taking part in has sparked global conversation, following some of the most talked-about events of the year. The bulk of what I covered focused on the first presidential debate in June 2024, the NATO Summit 2024, Former President Trump’s assassination attempt, the 2024 Republican National Convention, President Biden dropping out of the 2024 election, The presidential campaign around Kamala Harris, and how social media has played a deceptively new role in how the younger generative perceives information.

I could not express enough how grateful I am to have worked with such an amazing and talented group of people. From script writing and editing to creative vision, each person has been extremely informative, extending their time and energy to tell a story in the most innovative way possible. My time on the Visual Content team opened my eyes to the endless ways that ideas can take shape and the simple philosophy that news can be something that is not always being told to you, but rather being shown to you. Visual storytelling has always been a widely received medium because the communication barrier disappears. I have recognized that and grown familiar with that idea during my time here and I can’t wait to use this experience to assist me as I embark on the rest of my professional career.

About Ana: I am a rising fourth-year student at UC Davis, studying English, Professional Writing, and Political Science. I am originally from Alexandria, VA. I’ve been working for the school paper as a writer and editor for over two years now and I will continue to do that when I return as well as my volunteer work for our school’s environment appreciation festival that takes place in the spring.

Future plans: I look forward to graduating from UC Davis a quarter early in 2025 and continuing my role as the Arts and Culture editor for the school newspaper, The California Aggie. During the spring, I plan to get my Yoga teaching certification and continue the job hunt in the hopes of working for a publication centered around Politics, Culture, Arts, and Entertainment. Someday, I hope to work abroad, spreading information and sharing stories with a wider and more diverse audience.