Jessica Rhodes

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Hometown: Morgantown, W.Va.
Status: Graduate Student
Major: Grad school- Masters in Journalism, Undegraduate- News Editorial
Role: Student Journalist/
Multimedia Trainer

“I’m really excited to work on this project, not only because it is part of my graduate school professional project, but because it is a chance for me to see more of West Virginia. I’m originally from Maryland, so I haven’t traveled very much outside of the northern end of the state. I think West Virginia has a lot of beautiful scenery and interesting places, and I’m excited to share this great place with everyone.”

Q: What do you hope to contribute to this project?
A: I hope to contribute a little bit of everything, as well as producing a multimedia training manual for my graduate school professional project.

Q: Have you had any past internships or work experience?
A: My work experience includes four years at the Daily Athenaeum, WVU’s student-run newspaper. The various positions I held there over my four years of undergrad include staff writer, news editor and managing editor. I’ve also spent the last two summers working as an intern for the WVU Foundation. My job duties include speech and letter writing, logo designing, event planning and press releases.

Q: Name a few of your favorites:
A: Website: The Republic During the Midwest flooding in 2008 I became fascinated with all the multimedia reporting that took place. I followed The Republic’s website for the latest on the floods.
I’m also a big fan of the Google homepage. It is a great way to access multiple new website’s top headlines and organize all of my favorite RSS feeds.
A: Movie: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Devil Wears Prada, the Harry Potter series and all Pixar animated movies.
A: Reality television show: America’s Best Dance Crew.
A: Currently reading: I was currently reading “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch, but now I’m back to reading school books and literature for my professional project. Hopefully I can finish his book in my spare time.
A: Quotes:

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today
is a gift. That’s why they call it the present.”

-Oogway in Kung Fu Panda

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.”

-Cesare Pavese

Q: After you graduate what are your long-term goals?
A: After I graduate in May, I hope to land a job in page design or multimedia at a newspaper or magazine. I’m probably headed toward the Midwest when I graduate, somewhere near Indianapolis, Indiana. My dream job is to work for a fashion magazine (such as Allure) on their page design/layout team, maybe in Chicago or NYC. I would also like to live in Europe for a year, maybe more.

Q: Have you received any awards?
A: Outstanding News Editorial Senior at West Virginia University