This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.
Name: Kristin LaFratta
Age: 21
Year: Senior, Graduating spring 2016
Major: Journalism
Minor: International Relations and Information Technology
Occupation: Web Managing Editor at Massachusetts Daily Collegian, Resident Assistant, Server at Salem Country Club
HC: Can you tell us about your role at the Daily Collegian?
KL: I am the Web Managing Editor for the Massachusetts Daily Collegian, UMass Amherst’s independent daily paper. As the title might imply, I am responsible for managing the day-to-day production of the website, which itself is only several years old. My position wouldn’t exist without the hard work of my predecessors, and I am thankful for their dedication and innovation during their short time at the Collegian. Though the paper is printed Monday-Thursday, we are able to post content online anytime, which allows us to better deliver information to our readers and maintain our tradition of operating as a “daily” publication.
In my position, I oversee our two (fantastic) social media coordinators who produce all of the Collegian’s social media content, as well as our four (tremendous) senior producers who, in addition to working with our different sections to create multimedia projects, spend late nights producing our content online. I, along with the help of our editor-in-chief Mark Chiarelli and managing editor Patrick Hoff, perform the many tasks that come with managing a website. We work to filter article comments, monitor our site statistics, create multimedia pieces and deliver breaking news.
In addition to my Web Managing Editor position, I contribute content like news articles and multimedia pieces such as videos, podcasts and photo slideshows. I really love working with such a smart, funny and dedicated group of people. There are many different personalities and talents that come to the office, and that dynamic atmosphere is part of the reason we produce stellar work every day.
HC: What’s your favorite article you’ve ever written?
KL: My favorite article is one I am working on now. It’s for a magazine class I am taking, and it is a long-form piece detailing the struggle of college affordability for Massachusetts DREAMERS, undocumented immigrants who were brought here as children. It is a topic that is not discussed often, and I have learned a lot from reporting on this subject.
HC: What else are you involved in on campus?
KL: Besides my position as Web Editor at the Collegian, I am a Resident Assistant at Brown in Sylvan, where I am very lucky to work and live with a great group of people. Last week we held a social event where one of my co-workers wore a full, zip-up bear costume–if that is any indication of the laughs we have.
I have also contributed a small amount to UMass’s online magazine, The Amherst Wire. I appreciate all different types of writing, so I think we are lucky here in the UMass journalism department to dip our toes into all of the different styles of writing, reporting and production. I am a founding member of the Society of Professional Journalists here at UMass as well. We founded our chapter just last year and are in the eager process of planning events for our members.
HC: Ultimate dream job?
KL: My mother reads every TIME magazine cover to cover, and whether by genetics or keen observation over the past 21 years, I inherited her love for it. Writing/producing for TIME would be a dream. But really, I would love to work for any outlet that is dedicated to covering the important topics of our age. There is a lot of opportunity out there, despite all of the people who believe that journalism is a fading industry.
HC: If you have any (which seems unlikely), what do you like to do in your free time?
KL: In my free time I’m usually surfing articles on the Internet, singing along to music, or hanging out with family and friends. My friends and I love playing board and trivia games. Just yesterday we played an overly competitive round of Charades. (If the boys are reading this, know that the girls are going to win next game.)
I am also trying to return to the practice of reading books for pleasure. Reading an article is not the same process as reading a novel. The busier I get, the more I appreciate the brief escape from reality a good book offers.
HC: What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled and why?
KL: I loved my short visit to Paris last spring when I studied abroad in Galway, Ireland. Galway is a magical little city, but Paris was truly spectacular. It is a perfect blend of metropolitan and culture, springing with unique art, history, food, fashion. I did not have enough time to visit all of the city’s historic sites, and I hope to go back some day and see them all.
All photos courtesy of Kristin LaFratta