Shannon Ryker | Oct. 16, 2008
Three journalism students will intern and blog for the school Web site during this week’s Society of American Travel Writers conference in Houston.Senior Tracie Ortman and juniors Jackie Kochell and Natalie Avon are headed to Houston for the annual conference Friday through Wednesday. Laurie Borman, SATW’s immediate past president and a School of Journalism alumna, said the organization strives to help students interested in travel writing.
“The students here for the internship will write stories for the daily newsletter as well as attend any of our professional development sessions,” said Borman, B.A. ’78, who is editorial director at Rand McNally. “They will also get assigned to a member to have as a mentor throughout the whole session.”
The SATW membership includes travel writers who work all over the world. The group brings together travel writers who “combine a love for world culture with the skills of journalism,” Borman said.
Interns and attendees may attend professional development sessions that will focus on a range of topics, from digital photography to Web site development. The students get to choose what they would like to learn about.
“This conference really gives students a practical real life experience,” said Borman.
The three also will be reporting for the School of Journalism Web site so that students who can’t attend will share in the experience and learn more about travel writing careers.
Borman said the students may take daily tours of Houston and write about what is available to do in the city.
The three IU students are the only college interns.
“The fact that they only students here are from Indiana University says a lot about how willing the journalism school is to see the many facets of journalism,” said Borman.
Next year’s SATW conference is in Guadalajara, Mexico. For more information about the Society of American Travel Writers, visit its Web site.
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