Junior Carolyn Crist has a passion for journalism, and she plans to go pro. She has worked at UGA’s student-run independent daily newspaper, The Red & Black, ever since she was a freshman. Her roles have included editor-in-chief, associate news editor, crime reporter and student government reporter. Additionally, she has worked for the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, headquartered at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Most days, she wakes up early for classes and then goes to work at the newspaper, returning home around 10 p.m. each night. After graduation, she wants to become a newspaper reporter.
Hometown:
Newnan, Ga
High School:
East Coweta High School
Degree objective:
A.B. in English & A.B.J. in newspapers
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
In addition to working since my freshman year at The Red & Black, UGA’s independent student-run newspaper, I have several accomplishments. In the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, I’m a Grady Ambassador and the recipient of two Grady scholarships this year. In the Honors program, I’m an Honors Teaching Fellow and recipient of a 2008 summer research fellowship to study the journalistic coverage of poverty in Georgia.
Current Employment:
I am the news editor at The Red & Black. I climbed Baxter Hill to join the paper in September of my freshman year and in my fifth semester here I want to extend the reach of news coverage across campus. Although editors propose this year after year, I hope to cover some unique stories and help reporters stay on top of their stories with accuracy and efficiency. I served as editor-in-chief last summer and as associate news editor, crime reporter and student government reporter in past semesters. I’ve also been a student worker for the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, the state organization for high school journalism programs and students, since freshman year. I worked as an external affairs intern for Grady during my sophomore year.
Family Ties to UGA:
Although my mom attended UGA for four quarters, I will be the first in my immediate family to graduate from here. My cousin, Cristin Jordan, graduated from UGA in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in English.
I chose to attend UGA because…
…the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is one of the best journalism schools in the country. I first became interested in journalism in eighth grade and focused on UGA from there. It doesn’t hurt that I’m still in my home state and can visit family and old friends at times. I’m also thankful for the HOPE scholarship. I wouldn’t be able to attend college without it.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
…almost always related to University Union events. Who can get enough of the comedians, dance parties, laser tag, ferris wheel and funnel cakes? I also enjoy doing almost anything related to Grady (as cheesy as that may sound) because it practically becomes my second home at times. During the past two summers, I’ve been a camp counselor for the Georgia Journalism Academy and have enjoyed preparing activities for high school students and walking around barefoot in one of the most oddly-designed buildings on campus.
When I have free time, I like…
…to be a kid. With a schedule where I wake up for early classes and go to the newspaper right after that on a daily basis, I like to (and many times have to) stay up late to get everything done. Many nights this semester I came home around 10 p.m. and made my roommates dance, swim and shoot NERF guns with me! It’s just a way to keep my spirits up and look forward to the end of the day before it all starts over again.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
…almost get arrested for writing an article while I was a crime reporter in my sophomore year. The police department withheld a police report from me based on confidentiality of the victim, so I went to the Athens-Clarke County courthouse for the arrest warrants and wrote the story anyway. The next day, my editor and editorial adviser warned me a warrant might be out for my arrest because the police thought I went over their heads to obtain the information. Because the court documents were open records, however, nothing could be done! I tell myself I would have enjoyed getting my fingerprints taken, being bailed out by The Red & Black and writing a first-person column about the booking process. My mug shot would have been fun. At least it earned me an award at the annual Red & Black banquet—“Most likely to get arrested after her article is published.”
My favorite place to study is…
…always changing. I have never been able to sit in the Miller Learning Center or the library and study because it’s TOO quiet, oddly enough. I generally multi-task because of my restrained time schedule, and I end up studying while waiting for pages to clear at The Red & Black or while sitting with my roommates in our apartment living room.
My favorite professor is…
This is not a fair question to ask. There are a few who immediately come to mind. The ever-famous Conrad Fink in the journalism school will forever impress me with his adventures at the Associated Press, which is where I aim to go with my career. The way he conducts his class makes me feel like we’re in a budget meeting for a newspaper, always discussing what’s going on in the news, the ethics and the opinions of the day. I also admire Mark Johnson, who teaches the photojournalism classes in Grady, because of his endless fascinating stories as a photographer (also for the Associated Press) and with many other publications. He truly wants students to learn. Third, I enjoyed working with John Greenman in the journalism school, conducting research this summer on the journalistic coverage of poverty in Georgia. His endless knowledge of almost everything is impressive. And finally, I’m practically a part of the Grady College external staff and will always appreciate and remain close to Joe Dennis, director of diversity and high school outreach, Diane Murray, director of public service and outreach, Sherrie Whaley, director of public relations, and Karen Andrews, Grady’s event planner.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
…Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The humor he uses in his five-book “trilogy” is insanely absurd and witty. A conversation with him would be out of this world (literally).
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
…run away to California, write a book and surf. Before I became interested in journalism, I wanted to write novels. The idea still intrigues me, but I want to take on my dream of being a journalist as well. I first visited California when I was eight while on a family trip to visit my uncle. I fall in love with southern California and its beaches more and more with every visit. And because I have an indescribable attraction to bodies of water (lakes, streams, oceans, you name it), I’ve always wanted to surf. I’m not sure if I’d be good at it, but I’m determined to work at it at some point in my life.
After graduation, I plan to…
…become a reporter at a newspaper. Although the times are a’changin’ and news is moving increasingly to the Internet, I will always have a love for broadsheet-size newspapers and the ink they leave on my fingers. I’m working on multimedia skills through audio, video and HTML and know I’ll ultimately get my first job wherever I can. My dream is to work as a reporter and travel in any capacity (within the nation or internationally) to cover stories of importance.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
…walking to Cold Stone Creamery at least once a week freshman year and sitting next to the fountain on Herty Field, looking at the stars with the group of people I now call my best friends here at UGA. We continue to miss Cold Stone and the fountain.