A new grant could send journalism students all over the country in search of the job they’ve always wanted.
The Dream City Fund gives students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication the opportunity to travel to any city and interview with organizations they hope to work for.
Susan Credle, the UNC alumna who donated the money for the fund, said she let the journalism school decide how to use her donation, but she was excited when she learned it would be used for this purpose.
Students can apply to win up to $1,000 to fund their trip. It is open to all journalism students who plan to interview with at least three organizations.
“Our students want to go to a range of places. It could be as close as Raleigh or Cary, to as far away as San Francisco, New York, Chicago and beyond,” said Jay Eubank, director of placement and special programs in the journalism school.
The grant will be awarded to as many students as possible, said journalism professor John Sweeney — but he wouldn’t comment on how big the fund is.
“We have a certain amount of money — let’s say incredibly compelling things come in and they cost $1,000 a trip,” Sweeney said. “Well, that’s different than, heck, four kids at $250 a shot to run to Atlanta. And we won’t know that until we get the proposals from the students.”
Though the grant does not help students make connections for interviews in their city of choice, Sweeney and Eubank both said they would help students make contacts in cities where they know people in the industry.
Sophomore journalism major Kayla Slake said she is excited about the opportunity.
