Madison: Hands-on experience opportunities at Wartburg are unmatched
NAME: Madison Freeland Seitz
CLASS YEAR: 2022
HOMETOWN: Guttenberg
MAJOR: Journalism and communication
CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT: KWAR station manager, Knight Vision News, Knight Vision
WHY DID YOU MAJOR IN JOURNALISM & COMMUNICATION: I decided on a journalism and communication major because of the variety within it. I have always been interested in video and audio editing and knew that within this major I would get the opportunity to enhance those skills. I am also just a naturally curious person and am someone who loves to learn about a variety of different things, so as a journalist I knew I would be able to fuel that desire. As a triple concentration (organizational and public relations, multimedia journalism, and digital cinema) in the major, I feel I have been able to learn a variety of skills and have gotten to dip my toes in many different aspects of communication.
WHAT SETS WARTBURG’S JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAM APART FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS: The hands-on experience that you receive in this department is unmatched at other institutions. From the day I set foot on campus, I have had opportunities to become involved with all aspects of journalism and communication. Because our class sizes are so small, we also have the opportunity for individual growth and can get help on things we may not understand within our course material.
HAVE YOU DONE ANY INTERNSHIPS WHILE AT WARTBURG: I am currently doing a remote audio editing internship and have been for almost a year now with Whitney Warne, an Enneagram enthusiast and coach located in Des Moines. In my internship, I have been able to concentrate on a medium that is fairly new in the communication industry, podcasting, and have gotten to spend a lot of my time editing audio in general, which is a big passion of mine.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: I have recently accepted a job at FOX 9 in Minneapolis as a news producer and will be beginning that position in June, soon after graduation.
HOW HAS WARTBURG PREPARED YOU FOR YOUR NEXT STEP: The journalism and communication department gave me hands-on opportunities in the TV news broadcasting field from the second I’ve stepped on campus, more than preparing me for the role I will be stepping into. I have also learned a lot about my self-worth throughout my time as a student as I have had many mentors and peers who have been nothing but encouraging and helpful.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ROLE MODELS: I have many mentors on campus, including but not limited to, the journalism and communication faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Penni Pier, professor Pamela Ohrt, professor Ronald Johnson, adjunct professor Suzanne Behnke, and Lucas Wendland have all made a great impact on me throughout my time here. Each of them has been immensely helpful and encouraging to me in their own individual ways, and I truly look up to them and appreciate them more than I may be able to express with words. My fellow students and peers have also continuously inspired me and shown me a type of friendship and love that I have never known before and will never forget.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WARTBURG MEMORY: It’s incredibly hard to choose just one memory that sticks out from the many amazing ones that I am privileged to have. Some memories that stick out to me the most prominently include traveling and making a documentary with my Senior Capstone group as well as having a triple birthday party with my closest friends in Founders lounge in January.
WHY IS WARTBURG WORTH IT: My Wartburg experience has been worth it because I’ve been able to call this campus a true home for the last four years. In this time, I have not only gained so much experience and knowledge in my desired field, but I have also found a family within my peers and mentors. I have come to love so many new people that I never would have gotten the opportunity to meet if it hadn’t been for us all coming together at Wartburg.