Ginny Duffy (JRSP)
This summer I have gotten the privilege to intern for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Atlanta, Georgia. This internship has been nothing short of extraordinary and I have been pushed out of my comfort zone more times than I can count. Going into my junior year at Auburn, I am a Journalism-Sports Production major, and am so thankful for the opportunities that have been presented to me through the School of Communication & Journalism and the College of Liberal Arts. Before this internship, I have been getting avid experience with the sports-production side at War Eagle Productions and have learned so many key details of how to put on a sports broadcast. With the internship I currently have this summer, I have been so lucky to now be able to see the journalism side.
At the AJC, I am a sports-writing intern where I attend several sporting events in Atlanta and write about them. Whether it’s going to Atlanta Braves games, Copa América, the Atlanta Open, the July 4th Peachtree Road Race etc., I have had a variety of different experiences. I have been mostly working at the Braves where I am able to sit in the press box, take notes on players/key moments throughout the game, figuring out a topic on what I want to write about, and then writing it. I have also been able to sit in on pre and post-game press conferences with the Braves manager and players along with being able to go into their locker room to seek further questions for quotes on my pursued story. One thing that has given me so much confidence with my writing was seeing it actually being printed on the front page of the sports section of the AJC paper on different occasions along with my articles being published in the sports section of the AJC website.
Aside from writing about games, I have immensely improved upon my interview skills through interviewing pro-athletes along with fans. Currently, I am working on the Atlanta Open, which is a tennis tournament that takes place in late July at Atlantic Station in Atlanta. This project is particularly very exciting to me as I grew up playing competitive tennis and it’s something I really enjoy watching. Apart from being able to attend and write about it, I got the privilege to interview tennis players that I have always looked up to that included: the Bryan Brothers, John Isner, Andy Roddick, and Sloane Stephens. Through doing immense research, watching their playing style, and preparing questions, I have learned how to prepare for and lead an interview. This internship has really allowed me to go beyond my comfort zone.
One of the most important things I have learned from this internship and advice I have is how important it is to always, always say yes. My very first day I was asked whether I would rather work for the AJC sports video production team or sports writing team, and I said yes to both. Even though I didn’t know what I would be doing entirely. However, by saying yes to both, I was able to learn so many crucial factors about both sides which has only furthered my knowledge. By saying yes, it only benefits you and allows you to gain more experiences to prosper your career. Another key takeaway from this internship is the value of putting yourself out there at every opportunity. Facing discomfort head-on helps you become accustomed to it, eventually making it feel more natural. For example, when I first learned that I would be interviewing famous tennis players, I was overwhelmed and anxious at the thought of speaking with people I had only ever seen on television. Over time, my nervousness faded, and I grew genuinely excited about the opportunity to learn more about the players' stories. With my research as a foundation, I was excited to discover new insights for my writing.
I am so thankful for this experience because I believe I have gained so much knowledge about what I want to do with my career through the endless opportunities I took on. I learned how crucial preparation is with this internship, whether it’s getting ready to write a post-game story on the Braves in 90 minutes, or if you just got word that you’ll be interviewing your favorite pro-athlete tomorrow. You have to stay on your toes, be prepared for something to not go as planned, and stay calm while rolling with it. I started this internship with no knowledge of sports writing, and I’m leaving with a deep understanding of the field. None of this would have been possible without stepping out of my comfort zone.
