Two experienced college journalists will join Salem Reporter’s news staff in June in a continuing partnership with the University of Oregon. Reilly Norgren is on track to graduate this spring from UO with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English. A native of Clatskanie in Columbia Cou nty, Norgren has been part of the Daily Emerald since 2023. That is the student-run newspaper in Eugene. She served as an investigative reporter before becoming news editor last year. Reilly Norgren, a native of Clastaknie who graduates from the University of Oregon this spring, will join Salem Reporter as a news intern in June. She will focus on agriculture as well as breaking news at Salem Reporter. Brook Ferris graduated this spring from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in photography. Ferris grew up in Palmer, Alaska, and initially was in the medical field, working in Portland as a licensed pharmacy technician. After a decade, she decided to pursue her passion for photography. SUPPORT We invite you to support this important training program for young journalists by helping cover the costs. DONATE: Salem Reporter News Fund At OSU, she worked with the Orange Media Network, the student-run organization producing a newspaper, magazines and broadcast programs. As a senior photographer, one of her duties was to guide newer photographers, providing formal critiques of their work twice a month. Norgren and Ferris were selected to participate in the prestigious Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism, an internship program at UO’s School of Journalism and Communication. In all, 21 interns are going to Oregon and Washington newsrooms. This is the fourth year the journalism school selected Salem Reporter to host interns. Three current reporters – Abbey McDonald, Madeleine Moore and Hailey Cook – are former Snowden interns. Current Salem Reporter intern Skeet Starr, a senior at Willamette University, was also selected for this year’s Snowden program. He will head to The Bulletin in Bend. “This program year after year brings terrific journalism talent to Salem,” said Editor Les Zaitz. “I look forward to another chance to help shape the professional lives of journalists at this challenging time in the news business. Truly, Salem is the beneficiary.” The two journalists will get specialized training in journalism techniques and in the ethics of fair and accurate reporting. Ferris explained what she hopes to get from her time with Salem Reporter. “I want to build meaningful relationships within the newsroom and the community while continuing to grow as a journalist. I am especially interested in learning how to navigate day-to-day reporting in a local news environment, understanding how to tell stories that are both timely and impactful,” she said. “I hope to contribute to work that makes an impact, whether that is increasing awareness, documenting important moments, or helping community members feel seen and heard through visual storytelling.” Norgren said she is “really excited to jump right into covering everything Salem has to offer — public safety, government and business are all strengths of the Salem Reporter’s coverage that I am interested in.” She said she wants “to cover a wide variety of issues to become a well-rounded reporter that can be adaptable to a lot of subjects and beats.” Both have ambitions beyond Salem Reporter. “My long-term goal as a journalist is to be a breaking news reporter that provides live updates for readers. I’m really interested in being on-scene and working as quickly as possible to get news to readers,” Norgren said. Ferris said she wants to “continue developing as a visual journalist that fosters trust between audiences and the media.” “I want to produce work that is not only visually compelling but also grounded in ethical and accurate reporting,” she said. “I hope to focus on visual storytelling that brings underrepresented communities’ stories to the forefront, as well as complex social issues.” The two will spend 10 weeks in Salem. “I am excited about the opportunity to come to Salem, learn from the team, and immerse myself in a new community,” said Ferris. Norgren said that “being there in the summer is a great time to do some exploring and I’m looking forward to finding time to hike and be outdoors while I’m living in Salem.” A month after they start, Salem Reporter will add a new education reporter, developing investigative and enterprise stories on local schools and students. Correction: This is the fourth year Salem Reporter has hosted Snowden interns, not the third. We apologize for the error. The post Two graduating college journalists earn internships at Salem Reporter appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less