Hello Red Oak!

My name is Grace Escritt, and I am ecstatic to say that this summer, I will be interning with The Red Oak Express to assist in representing the voices and views of the community.
Following my graduation from East Mills High School in 2023, I moved a few hours away from my home in Emerson to attend the University of Iowa. I am currently a second-year student at the university majoring in journalism and mass communication with an emphasis on reporting.
My inspiration to study journalism in college originated from my participation in high school speech team. Presenting my pieces at competitions gave me the confidence to showcase my work to others, and I am forever grateful for those who encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone.
Alongside journalism, I have also decided to study sociology and political science. Much of my work over the past year has been focused on the social sciences as well as education, which are two fields I hope to work closely with in the future.
As a student at the university, I am an editor for The Foundationalist Literary Magazine. I also serve as a resource for students in the journalism school’s student center and as a representative on the undergraduate student advisory board.
Once I graduate from Iowa with my bachelor’s degree, I plan to move to the east coast to jumpstart my career as a reporter – likely with a focus on politics.
In recent years, the world of journalism has been rapidly evolving, and I have had the opportunity to witness these changes firsthand as a college student. Not only do I seek to use my insights to contribute to this movement, but I will endeavor to stand at the forefront of it.
I ultimately chose journalism for three reasons: to use something I am passionate about to protect the community, ensure authenticity as well as transparency, and shape journalism into a force that best serves democracy.
With my time at The Red Oak Express, I will be further immersing myself in the community to properly represent the voices of the general public and ensure the needs of the community are met.
I am excited to see what the future holds for me here, and I look forward to meeting everyone within the community!