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Karli Olson, who completed her MA in Journalism at the 51��ɫ, reflects on how her time at UL shaped her career. From living on her own for the first time to gaining hands-on experience with industry experts, Karli shares how her time at UL transformed her career, leading her to a successful path in broadcast journalism.

Kate had been homeschooled all the way through high school and completed her undergraduate degree through online courses before moving to Ireland to attend UL for a Master’s programme. She earned her MA in Journalism and graduated in 2020, a time when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted educational delivery. “I earned my MA in Journalism at UL and graduated in 2020, which means nearly half of my degree was done virtually due to the pandemic!”

When asked why she chose UL, Karli highlighted her passion for travel and her interest in Ireland. “I knew that I wanted to be able to pursue my traveling dreams while also gaining meaningful experience in my career field, and I had always had a particular interest in Ireland (maybe it's because of the red hair!).” The well-rounded journalism program at UL, which covered multiple facets of journalism, also played a pivotal role in her decision to study there.

During her time at UL, Karli found several aspects of the program particularly impactful, with the broadcast journalism class standing out as a turning point in her career. “I had previously wanted a career in print journalism, and that class helped me to see that the way I wrote and wanted to tell stories was best suited to broadcast news. I was shy and unsteady in those skills at first, but the encouragement and guidance I received there gave me the courage I needed to step out on a new path in life.”

As a student in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) faculty, Karli was exposed to hands-on learning from top academic talent, providing her with real-world journalism experience. “I greatly enjoyed the instruction I received from professors who had personally worked in the field and understood the demands of the job, and had proven themselves to be experts in the profession.”

Reflecting on her student life, Karli emphasized the importance of immersing herself in both academic and social experiences. While she wished she had lived on campus to engage more with clubs and societies, she made the most of her time through the International Society. “I was a member of the International Society, and it was wonderful to have easily accessible and affordable opportunities to join up with other international students to take trips all around the country.”

Karli shared that the video stories she produced as part of her broadcast module helped her secure her first internship, marking a significant step in her career. “The video stories I put together as part of our broadcast module were the direct reason that I got my first internship at my first news station!”

Currently, Karli works as a TV news reporter for KPTV News in Portland, Oregon, where she covers local and state news. She also highlighted a major milestone in her career: “I'm really proud that last year I was nominated in the Multimedia Journalist category for our regional Emmy awards.”

Looking ahead, Karli plans to continue telling important stories in her home state while developing her investigative journalism skills. “I hope to continue telling stories in the Portland area and in my state for the foreseeable future, as it's my home state and I'm passionate about contributing to good journalism here.”

Karli expressed her gratitude for the time spent at UL, stating, “I'm so grateful for the time I spent in Ireland, and the academic, social, and travel adventures that I got to have while I was there. I now have an abundance of treasured memories that I get to share for the rest of my life.”