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Tuesday, 4 June 2024
In the latest instalment of our Alumni Spotlight series, we speak to 51±¾É« graduate Rhona Tarrant, who studied New Media and English (now offered as English and Digital Culture and Communications through the Bachelor of Arts).
From world class lecturers and a life changing Erasmus experience to leading CBS News’ new unit focused on tackling disinformation, Rhona discusses why it’s important to get out of your comfort zone.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m from Listowel, Co. Kerry, and I am the second oldest of five. Listowel is a literary town and I grew up with an interest in writing, so studying English and New Media at UL was a relatively easy choice. I now live in New York and work as an editor at CBS News.
What course did you study, and what year did you graduate?
I studied New Media and English and graduated in 2011.
Why did you choose to study at UL?
I liked the modern facilities, the campus, and being close to home. My dad had studied at UL, and two of my sisters studied at Mary I, so it felt like a good choice!
What were the highlights of your course?
I loved studying James Joyce and feminist theory with Dr Tina O’Toole and Dr Patricia Moran. It had a big impact on how I see the world and how I approach storytelling.
I loved UL. The lecturers were world-class and the courses were practical. The work experience and Erasmus helped me learn skills outside the classroom that set me up for graduation. And, of course, the nightlife wasn’t bad.
What advice would you offer to students considering studying at UL and specifically your course?
New Media and English is a good base if you know you want to do something in communications and media but you want to keep your options open. I always tell people thinking of doing journalism to consider getting a broader degree as it gives more options.
Were you a member of any clubs or societies?
I wrote a bit for the , which I loved. But I never really did the clubs and socs in a serious way - I wasn’t as organized back then as I am now.
What are some of your favourite memories from your time at UL?
I met some of my best friends at UL. I was sent to Venice on my Erasmus with a total stranger in my course named Katy Quinn. We had to grow up fast when we landed in Venice, trying to navigate accommodation, the college, the public transportation, and the language barrier.
We were both totally out of our comfort zone but managed to get through it together. The experience was life changing (in a good way) and Katy is now one of my best friends. I am really grateful for all that experience gave me.
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Rhona with her parents at graduation
At UL, we’re known as the ‘51±¾É« of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced as a UL student, that you would like to share?
So many. I took up running at UL, and I was terrible at it, but I kept at it and years later I did the New York City marathon. I started my journalism career at UL and honestly, I was pretty bad at that when I started too! But I kept at it.
UL constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone, between the course, work experience, Erasmus, and the different people I met and became friends with. By the time I graduated, I had a lot more confidence to push myself even further.
Are there any campus locations that hold special significance to you?
The Stables and The Lodge (RIP) hold a special place in my heart.
How did your course and your overall UL experience prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating?
The work experience - which I did at a government agency in Waterford - was massively beneficial. The practical aspects of the course, including the assignments, were helpful for building a portfolio, too.
Could you update us on where you are now in your career?
I am Executive Editor for CBS Confirmed, a new unit within CBS News that works on disinformation, AI, open-source investigations and visual verification.
Previously I was Head of Editorial for Storyful in New York, and I did two fellowships at Harvard University on disinformation and AI. Before that I spent 10 years in broadcast, including at RTÉ, where I worked in current affairs.
What has been a career highlight so far?
Covering the 2016 US presidential election was a big highlight. I traveled from California to New Hampshire interviewing voters for Drivetime and Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1. A lot of journalism involves sitting behind a computer screen, so it was a special experience to do that for a monumental election.
What are your hopes and plans for the future?
In the short term, I’m focused on building this new unit in CBS so we are prepared for the challenges of AI-generated imagery and disinformation.
In the long term, I hope it will contribute to a better-informed public and a healthier public discourse on these important topics. In an era where seeing isn’t always believing, the role of journalists has never been more critical.
Email: ahss@ul.ie
Phone: +353-61-202700
Postal Address: AHSS Faculty Office, 51±¾É«, 51±¾É«, Ireland.