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Alumni Profiles

See what our grads were doing when they were here for our annual alumni panel on Homecoming Weekend

Katie Holscher, Class of 2005, Alumni Panelist 2008

Katie Holscher currently works for Gilberti Stinziano Heintz & Smith, P.C., a law firm in Albany, NY. Having recently moved back to the Capital Region, Katie has spent the past three years in Florida where, most recently, she was Managing Editor for High Performance Pontiac Magazine and Vette Magazine.

While completing a double major in journalism and communications at SUNY Plattsburgh, Katie freelanced at the Press-Republican and interned at Lake Champlain Weekly while working her way up to Editor in Chief of Cardinal Points. After graduation, she was hired as the Press-Republican's Crime Reporter. Katie moved to Florida in late 2005 to work as Editor of the South Lee Messenger, a weekly newspaper in southern Lee County. She later worked in Marketing and Public Relations for Platinum Land Title Agency where she created Web content, marketing materials and sales initiatives.

Today, in addition to working in both a legal assistant and paralegal capacity, Katie has helped to design and implement a marketing plan for the Albany office and contributes regularly to the company newsletter. She also works on the side with small area companies to improve their marketing programs, materials and Web sites. In the Spring, Katie will be teaching Journalism 308 at SUNY Plattsburgh as an Adjunct Lecturer.

What knowledge and skills were most helpful in your first job?

"The interviewing and reporting skills I learned at Cardinal Points and as a freelancer for Press-Republican were my greatest asset as Crime Reporter of the Press-Republican. By having obtained real-life experience as a journalist, the transition from college to my first real job was a smooth one."

What stories have you done that you are most proud of?

"Hurricane Wilma hit Florida while I was Editor of the South Lee Messenger. I drove down to southern Lee County to survey the damage and speak to those affected. In addition to photographing devastated homes, down power lines and distressed families, I visited Germaine Arena - a sports venue that doubled as a shelter during the hurricane. Once there, I met a wheelchair-bound woman and her dog. She had MS and had recently moved to Florida after her doctor had recommended the climate to be better for her medical state. After the storm went through, she found she had nowhere to go back to. My article made her story public and helped her to get the assistance she needed."

Katie's Career Highlights

Katie's Advice for Journalism Students

"Roll with the lows. Working in the journalism field is not usually easy. You will have to work very hard and test your limits. You will lose sleep. You will eat on the go. Your job will always come first. You likely will not find your ideal employer straight out of the gate. Go with it. The experiences you have and skills you learn along the way will only make you a better journalist in the long run. You will find yourself working somewhere you never expected. You may find yourself doing something you never considered doing. Don't worry; it will only make you better. Besides, you didn't enter this field because of its predictability did you?"

John Coleman, Class of 2007, Alumni Panelist 2008

"For the past year I have been working full-time at my hometown newspaper, The Post-Star, as a niche writer. I earned a major in magazine journalisms as well as a minor in graphic design from SUNY Plattsburgh.

"I was staff writer and co-copy editor for the online magazine All Points North from 2005- 2007 and spent one semester as an illustrator/graphic designer for Cardinal Points (2004). I also played third base for the baseball team from 2003-2007."

At The Post-Star

"Under the title, "Niche Publication Writer," I write for over 10 publications ranging from tourism and entertainment guides to a monthly health tabloid. These publications are referred to as "rack publications" because they're often found in racks at high traffic locations such as a lobby of a business or entrance to a doctors office or health club.

"Working in the advertising department, I am distanced from the daily newspaper and therefore do not have the same editors and managerial staff the daily reporters have. Instead, I am kind of my own boss; in charge of coming up with my own stories, taking my own photos and copy editing my work.

"The tone of my writing changes with each publication. One day I might be writing business profiles and the next day a feature about herbal remedies.

"Almost a second job in itself, I am also a part-time staff writer and handle pagination of our newly-launched weekly newspapers, The Glens Falls Leader and Queensbury Citizen. These papers are inserted in the daily each week and are area-code-specific, and therefore very specialized. The stories are fluffy and avoid negative news. Common in the weeklies are stories about a new downtown business, a fund-raising event or a Q&A with a local diplomat.

"I spend a good deal of time each week paginating the weekly newspapers. This entails filling editorial holes with copy and photos and doing so in an organized, functional manner. This is where my minor in graphic design comes in handy; knowing how to use InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator was a major plus."

John's Advice for Journalism Students

"It is an interesting time for the newspaper industry. Online versions of the daily newspapers are becoming increasingly popular and it has changed the way the paper functions. Popular online blogs are starting to show up in the next morning's print edition and general assignment reporters are leaving the office with a video camera along with their notepad.

"For the first time, television news is competing with newspapers for exclusive online content. This shift in news gathering has given rise to the "MoJo," or "'mobile journalist," a reporter that works remotely, equipped with a cell phone, lap top, digital camera and even a video camera. They package their stories digitally and send them to their editors via the Internet. Ever more valuable to newspapers and magazines are journalists with experience using web design, graphic design, video editing, and other multimedia software.

"Lastly, broaden your range of talents and activities while at school and, when you land your first job, seize each new opportunity that arises. Your workload will increase but so will the respect others have of you.

"Of course, never stop being curious. The best stories are the ones that originate in your imagination."

Angelique Serrano, Class of 2001, Alumni Panelist 2007

Angelique Serrano works at Marke Communications in New York, NY. She earned a double major in print journalism and communications as well as double minor in Spanish and English literature. While earning her degrees, she interned at the Press Republican (Plattsburgh's newspaper), Teen People Magazine, and worked at Cardinal Points. After graduation, she worked as a publishing assistant at Teen People Magazine, style assistant/reporter at People Magazine, freelance writer for Latina Magazine, and staff writer and style editor at Latina Magazine. Today she is the director of the New York Fashion & Beauty Center, where she does trend forecasting for a Latin American fashion & beauty brand. She also freelance writes for women's magazines.

What knowledge and skills were most helpful in your first job?

"Figuring out how to come up with story ideas. Specifically, it was an exercise in a journalism class Prof. Murphy taught; we had to look at a chair and literally come up with dozens of story ideas that could stem from this one plastic chair. Going to pitch meetings at magazines, where your editors are looking for fresh story ideas and ways to package pieces, this exercise was extremely helpful."

What stories have you done that you are most proud of?

"I recently did a heavily reported magazine feature on the state of latina skin. It examined the sun's effect on latina skin tones, and how latinas have different needs than caucasians when it comes to skin care and beauty products."

Angelique's Career Highlights

Angelique's Advice for Journalism Students

"Take an online journalism course, as well! Many magazines are shutting down and moving their business online. Take a few courses on how to write for online. Start practicing by pitching freelance story ideas to magazines. Learn how to tailor your pitches to specific magazines. In addition to thinking of story ideas for a perspective magazine, think of ways to package these stories; look at how magazines are doing more "themed" issues--like vanity fair's "green issue," etc.--magazines are always looking for fresh, inventive story packages (ex: the 20 best buddy movies ever; the health issue: the healthiest cities, foods and spas for you!). Think of what kind of packages would work for specific magazines."

Andrew deGrandpre, Class of 1999, Alumni Panelist 2007

Andrew deGrandpre majored in journalism and went on to earn a master's in journalism from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago. While at SUNY Plattsburgh, he served as a reporter and editor for Cardinal Points. He now is as an editor, writer and reporter for Army Times Publishing Co., which chronicles all aspects of the U.S. military.

He moved to Washington from North Topsail Beach, N.C., a coastal community bordering Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune. In nearby Jacksonville, deGrandpre ran the city desk for a 25,000-circulation daily newspaper. There, he coached a reporting staff of 10 and snatched every opportunity to write his own stories about the Marines, their exploits in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the many social challenges they face at home between combat deployments.

From 2003 to mid-2004, deGrandpre was editor of a 5,000-circulation weekly paper outside Chapel Hill, N.C.--having moved there from Chicago where, as a graduate student at the Medill School of Journalism, he was a beat reporter assigned to cover Mayor Richard Daley and the 50-member city council.

Andrew's Career Highlights

Andrew's Advice for Journalism Students

"Reporting skills alone won't guarantee long-term success in this trade; you've got to diversify your skill set. For the past few years, I have advised aspiring journalists to invest time learning page design, the complementary skill that landed me a newspaper job after graduating from Plattsburgh State's journalism program and again three years later when I completed graduate studies. And while I still encourage anyone considering a journalism career to become proficient in page layout and design (it will boost your marketability when it's time to hunt for your first or second job), these days it is more important for journalists to have a solid understanding of the Web and how it now dictates the nature of our work.

"The Internet is fast becoming the delivery method of choice for the majority of newspaper readers. To that end, employers want journalists with a demonstrated ability to produce multimedia content--not just well-crafted, well-sourced news stories, but the accompanying slideshows, videos and interactive graphics as well. Perfect your reporting skills, to be sure; it's the bedrock of what we do. But branch out and develop a working knowledge of the other tasks affiliated with news production."

Victoria Hirschberg, Class of 2003, Alumni Panelist 2007

"At Plattsburgh State, I spent most of my time in the Cardinal Points office and became an editor my second semester of freshman year. As editor in chief, Cardinal Points won the New York Press Association Best College Paper, which was a highlight and the paper continuously won the prestigious All-American award. As part of my Latin American Studies experience, I traveled to Washington D.C. twice to present resolutions arguing for a more free press in Latin America and completed a research paper on the current condition of the press in Chile. Part of my senior year I interned at Vistazo, the largest circulated magazine in Spanish in Ecuador, where I studied for six months.

"I worked for 3.5 years as first a business reporter, than political reporter for The Monitor newspaper in McAllen, Texas, a growing city located on the U.S.-Mexico border. I was a finalist for a Katie Award, out of the Dallas Press Club, for investigative business story. Also I spent one month in central Wisconsin for an assignment about migrant workers--which was an amazing opportunity and story I was fortunate to tell. From that story, I won first place for feature writing from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors competition.

"In graduate school, I continue to work on my spare time as a freelance writer. I was contracted to write a book chapter about the Latino experience in Wisconsin. Publication is expected in 2009.

"At SUNY Plattsburgh, I held about every position at Cardinal Points, including editor in chief. I interned at the Rural Law Center of New York in Plattsburgh as a research intern and created a monthly newsletter. I had a spring internship at the Burlington Free Press as a features reporter. During the summer, I interned at the Lake Placid News and Adirondack Daily Enterprise. I also interned at Vistazo in Guayaquil, Ecuador."

Victoria's Career Highlights

Victoria's Advice for Journalism Students

"Internships/Cardinal Points/take classes outside of journalism/study abroad!!!!

"Learn another language/do everything you can journalism related and non-journalism related - you can sleep when you're dead!"

Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

If you would like to learn more about the Journalism Department at SUNY Plattsburgh, please contact

Shawn Murphy
Chair, Department of Journalism
Co-Director, Center for Communication and Journalism
Office: Yokum Hall 103-A
Phone: 518-564-2422
Fax: 518-564-2105
E-mail: shawn.murphy@plattsburgh.edu

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