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7 Questions with Caitlin Emma ’11, Politico Pro Education Reporter

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By MELISA FINK ’14

Caitlin Emma, a 2011 honors journalism and political science graduate, says UConn helped her pursue careers in the journalism field. (photo courtesy of Caitlin Emma)
Caitlin Emma, a 2011 honors journalism and political science graduate from Leominster, Mass., says UConn challenged her and lead her toward her career as a politics reporter. (Photo courtesy of Caitlin Emma)

As an education reporter at Politico Pro, Caitlin Emma gets to feed her passion for Washington D.C. politics and policy.

Emma, who graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2011 with degrees in journalism and political science, credits her UConn professors with nurturing her interest in politics and storytelling, and really pushing her toward her career goals.

What else has Emma accomplished and what advice does she have for current journalism students? In an email interview, she offered some highlights.

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Q and A with Mike Chiappetta ’95: Mixed Martial Arts Journalist

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By MELISA FINK ’14

Mike Chiappetta, a 1995 UConn journalism graduate, established a successful sports writing career covering Mixed Martial Arts.(Photo courtesy of Michael Chiappetta)

Journalist Mike Chiappetta has carved out a successful career niche covering the full contact combat sport of mixed martial arts, specifically the UFC. He currently works as a senior writer for FOXSports.com.

Chiappetta earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Connecticut in 1995. “Fun fact: my diploma is signed by former Connecticut governor and convicted felon John Rowland,” Chiappetta wrote in an email interview.

Here are more of Chiappetta’s thoughts about his experience at UConn and the trajectory of his journalism career.

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A glimpse into UConn Journalism alumna Kala Kachmar’s post-grad life

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By MELISA FINK ’14

Kala Kachmar, a 2009 UConn journalism graduate, works as a government reporter at the Montgomery Advertiser in Montgomery, AL. (Photo courtesy of Kala Kachmar)

Kala Kachmar, a 2009 graduate of the University of Connecticut graduate, earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science, along with a minor in history. She currently works as the city/county government reporter at the Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama.

Some of her previous jobs include working as a staff writer at The Chronicle in Willimantic, as a reporter at The Journal Inquirer in Manchester, and as a copy-editor, page designer, reporter at the Norwich Bulletin.   

Kachmar credits her curiosity about people and events going on around her for as her inspiration for majoring in journalism.

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Two Pulitzer Prize Winners Join UConn Journalism Faculty

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Two new faculty members join the UConn Journalism Department faculty for the 2013-14 school year. They are Steven G. Smith and Mike Stanton.

Visual journalism Prof. Steven G. Smith
Steven G. Smith, Associate Professor of Journalism

Steven G. Smith is a  Pulitzer-Prize winning photographer from Colorado. Smith won the Pulitzer as part of a group award for breaking news photography of wildfires, Rocky Mountain News, 2003.

Smith received an American Master Artist Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, won Pictures of the Year International awards 10 times (five individual and five group), won the portfolio award from the Society of News Design, as well as many other awards.

His work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, Time, National Geographic, MSNBC.com, ABC News 20/20, and many more. His work been on exhibit around the world, including the Newseum, Sydney Opera House, International Photography Hall of Fame, Poynter, London, Osaka, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and South Africa. Continue reading →