Journalism grads seek j obs
Cameron Ballantyne, a broadcast
major, sent out 40 tapes in hopes
of finding an entry-level position
Jennifer Bear
Campus/Federal Politics Reporter
Tassels the color of ripe black cher
ries, stately graduation robes and a
shiny new diploma — these are the
thoughts flitting through the typical
senior’s mind the first week of June.
For Cameron Ballantyne, one of 346
seniors graduating from the Universi
ty’s School of Journalism and Commu
nication, an entirely different matter
is weighing on his mind — the need to
find a job, any job, so long as it’s in
broadcast journalism.
“You start out making pennies, but
you know that going in,” he said.
Ballantyne has sent about 40 appli
cation tapes across the globe asking
for entry level positions in TV news.
Although he hasn’t reached the point
of being frantic, Ballantyne said he’s
definitely beginning to feel stressed
about the scarcity of opportunities in
the journalism job market.
Most of the journalism school’s grad
uating class is in the same sticky situa
tion as Ballantyne. They’re on the
brink of receiving their diplomas but
don’t have a source of employment
lined up.
Despite grim prospects in the job
market, Ballantyne said he has confi
dence that he will be able to nail down
work in the months following gradua
tion. He added his goal has always
been to work in journalism, ever since
he was in junior high.
When he transferred to the Univer
sity his junior year, Ballantyne did
everything he could to prepare himself
for a job in broadcast journalism, in
cluding becoming president of the Uni
versity chapter of the Society for Pro
fessional Journalists and working as an
intern at KEZI.
Faculty and staff members within
the journalism school said even
though numerous awards and scholar
ships have been given throughout the
school year, a handful of graduating
students still deserve recognition for
their outstanding accomplishments.
Tom Hagley, a visiting professor in
public relations, nominated graduating
senior Aliena Baker for netting intern
ship offers from two worldwide public
relations firms — Edelman and Fleish
man-Hillard.
Director of Graduate Studies and
Research Leslie Steeves said Windy
Borman is an “outstanding student” in
the 2003 graduating class with a dou
ble major in theater and journalism,
numerous extracurricular activities
such as working at the Cultural Forum
and two study abroad trips.
Erik Talbert, manager of the Elec
tronic Media Center, nominated Char
lotte Nisser as being at the top of her
class because of her involvement as
general manager of campus radio sta
tion KWVA, and because she distin
guished herself as a student by earn
ing high marks and being a Mortar
Board VP.
The journalism graduation ceremo
ny will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. on
the south lawn of the Knight Library.
Contact the senior news reporter
atjenniferbear@dailyemerald.com.
News brief
Lower student loan rates
to benefit students
Graduating students worried about paying back student
loans after college may have some relief after federal student
loan rates plunged to a record low this month.
The new rate of 3.42 percent, which will officially be
instituted on July 1 and remain in effect until May 2004,
will especially benefit graduates who are currently repay
ing loans and can consolidate them into the new rate.
New rates apply to private and government-issued fed
eral Stafford loans dispersed since July 1998. Rates for
PLUS loans also dropped to a lower 4.22 percent.
For students about to graduate, loan consolidation is
one option that would result in lower monthly payments.
With loan consolidation, current federal loans are paid off
and a new loan is created with the new fixed interest rate.
According to Sally Mae, an organization that provides edu
cation funding, loan borrowers have a six-month grace peri
od between when they leave school and when they must start
paying their loans — a good time to decide the next step in
loan repayment.
Federal Stafford loans are the most widely used loans of
all programs and come in two different types: unsubsi
dized, which means a student can defer payment until
after graduation but increase the interest; and subsidized,
which means a student makes interest payments while
attending college.
The PLUS loan program is a low-interest, federally
sponsored program that allows parents to help fund the
Turn to Loans, page 12
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