Combining interests in media and politics as a Press Assistant

Areas of Emphasis: Public Advocacy, Strategic Communication

During her sophomore year, Rosemarie was drawn to co-op for the Office of the Governor of Massachusetts, effectively combining her longstanding interests in media, the press, and politics.

As a Press Assistant, she performed research on cities, towns, media outlets, and issues that was passed on to her supervisors for inclusion in Governor Charlie Baker’s statements. In addition, she attended press conferences, monitored coverage, recorded and archived the Governor’s public appearances, and drafted press releases and remarks for the Governor.

One of the more valuable parts of this co-op for Rosemarie were the intern luncheons hosted by the State House.

“Each week, an employee would talk about their job and how they got to be there. Hearing their stories was both informative and interesting, and I learned a lot about state politics and campaigns.”

She also credits many of the courses in the major for preparing her for this role.

“’Communication and the Digital Age’ helped me better understand the media I would be using daily. ‘Public Speaking’ gave me the confidence to articulate ideas to my supervisors. And ‘Introduction to Professional Development’ helped me through the application process and taught me all the office know-how I could possibly need. I couldn’t have done it without the Comm Studies Department.”