A discussion with Medill graduate student Malathi Nayak on her three-month involvement with Medill’s Global Warning project, which began publishing its results earlier this month.
First off, how would you describe your three-month experience with the National Journalism Security Initiative?
It was a challenging, fun and exhilarating experience, which involved a lot of learning and hard work.
What were your goals heading into the project of what you wanted to get out of the experience?
When I applied for the scholarship, I had no idea what I was getting into since the project was going to be Medill’s first national security reporting fifth quarter. But the theme of the project piqued my interest and curiosity. So I just went in with an objective to explore investigative reporting and national security reporting and hone my writing, multimedia and social media skills.
Looking back at the three months, what are one or two experiences that really stand out to you as unforgettable opportunities?
There were many exciting and crazy moments. This project really took the team to people and places that we wouldn’t otherwise have had access to. For instance, my story involved going to Bangladesh to meet some top military officials and attend a UN peacekeeping training. I was there for a week as a jetlagged, solo backpack journalist on my first foreign assignment. That really gave me a rush.
How have you grown as a journalist from when the quarter began?
The story I wrote for the project is the most difficult story I have written so far. The sources we met were top experts and we had to go to great lengths to prepare for our interviews. We also juggled many tasks at one time. Besides reporting we created multimedia features and blogged and used social media to create a buzz about our project. Our professors were great in guiding us and preparing us for real jobs that lie ahead. I learned each day from the sources I met and the experiences I had. I definitely got an all round reporting experience and learned a lot during those 10 weeks in Washington DC.
Looking at everything you and your classmates produced, what are you proudest of?
I am really proud of my team. I am proud of the entire project as a whole, each element was put together painstakingly by each reporter. Many times we had trouble reaching top officials for interviews but I think our tenacity and persistence paid off.
What impact do you hope you and your classmates’ work will have on the climate change issue?
I hope that readers are able to understand the connection between national security and climate change is something that is real and affects everyone. I hope our project helps people understand this issue and motivates them to think about how it affects them and what choices they must make in their everyday lives to mitigate those effects.
Originally appeared on Medill’s website.
