Meredith College student Emily Hodges, ’26, recently completed the CBC-UNC News Media Multiplatform Fellowship, a prestigious program offered at WRAL.
Hodges was one of 12 student journalists from colleges around the U.S. to be selected for the competitive fellowship. Sponsored by WRAL and UNC-Chapel Hill, it aims to prepare participants for future broadcast media careers. 
“I wanted to participate in the CBC-UNC News Media Multiplatform Fellowship because I am interested in photography and in learning more about the news industry. This fellowship was highly recommended to me by Dr. Lynn Owens, Meredith’s communication department chair, after I took her COM-365 Digital Storytelling class,” Hodges said.
As part of the fellowship, students participate in workshops, including one on voice and diction for broadcast news led by Owens, who was among journalists and experts offering their knowledge to aspiring journalists.
The weeklong program, held during Meredith’s spring break, allowed Hodges a glimpse into photojournalism as a career.
“It was a great experience to learn more about what it is like to be a photographer in this industry,” Hodges said. “It supports my career goals because I am considering becoming a photographer in the news industry or having my own photography business, so it was a great opportunity to gain more understanding of what professional photography is like.”
CBC-UNC Fellows also put together their own news stories for WRAL.com and learned how to produce a newscast.
“My favorite part was learning how WRAL’s cameras operate and being able to go out into the field and record some clips with the help of one of WRAL’s reporters, Grace Holland,” Hodges said. “She was very kind and knowledgeable and helped me to gain a better understanding of what it is like to be a photographer in the field.”
Hodges, who is earning majors in Spanish and psychology at Meredith, has also taken photography and communication courses. Her coursework and photography experience, along with mentorship from Owens, made her feel prepared for the WRAL program.
“I have a background in photography, as I have been an amateur photographer for several years and took a few photography classes at Meredith. Those classes helped me to hone my photography skills and understand the main elements of a photograph,” Hodges said. “In addition, Dr. Owens helped me to feel prepared for the fellowship. I am very grateful for her help and guidance throughout the fellowship process.”
This is the second year in a row that a Meredith student has been selected for the CBC-UNC fellowship. Lilly Koonce, ’25, participated in the program last year. Hodges encourages other students to follow in their footsteps.
“I would encourage any Meredith students who are interested in the news industry or want to get a job as a reporter, producer, or photojournalist to think about this fellowship and talk to Dr. Owens,” Hodges said. “I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity, as I learned a lot during this fellowship, met and connected with some amazing people, and developed my professional skills.”
Melyssa Allen – News Director
316 Johnson Hall
(919) 760-8087 | Fax: (919) 760-8330 | allenme@meredith.edu