Just Call Me Master

Master of Journalism From Columbia J-School

Well folks, we finally did it. We finished the program and are now considered masters… I don’t know how the time went by so quickly, but all I know is that I am way more exhausted than when I started the year in August as a new student at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. 

Interning at the United Nations

Before graduation, I was accepted as an intern at the United Nations Global Communications Department in the NYC headquarters! Of course, I was assigned to the Africa section of the department, meaning that I would have a ton to learn about Africa before I could even feel even a bit qualified to be writing articles or working with the marketing team creating media posts covering the continent of Africa.

I have now been interning with the UN for about three months and have just accepted a three-month extension to the internship, meaning I have three more months to continue learning as much as possible about Africa. As someone who has spent most of her education learning about European countries, I do feel underinformed about the cultures across the continent of Africa and the challenges people living there face in their own communities. 

Africa Renewal is the magazine that the UN communications team manages, which is then disseminated across Africa through local newspapers distributed across the continent. The magazine focuses on publishing stories about inspiring innovation efforts and change-makers in Africa. I have gotten the opportunity to help copy-edit interviews with the Youth Envoy and leaders working toward making positive economic and social changes in different parts of Africa. 

Overall, I have learned a lot about my own lack of awareness of the challenges and innovation efforts across the continent of Africa. I look forward to expanding my knowledge of African cultures and politics.