SWT student awarded national fellowship

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — Trisha Espinoza, a senior mass communication major at Southwest Texas State University, has been selected as a participant in the International Radio and Television Society (IRTS) Foundation’s annual Summer Fellowship Program.

After enduring a rigorous application process, Espinoza was one of 30 students chosen from more than 600 applicants to participate in the expense-paid program in New York City this summer. The Summer Fellows will begin with an extensive one-week orientation to broadcasting, cable, advertising and news media. Students will have a rare opportunity to question industry professionals at panels, lectures and group discussions.

Summer Fellows will also take several related field trips and learn networking skills by attending industry social functions. Focus is placed on enhancing career planning, resume writing and interviewing skills. The second part of the program places Fellows in an eight-week internship. Past IRTS Fellows have worked at all four major networks, at New York City radio and television stations, at advertising agencies, cable operations and other national firms.

Job placements for this year’s Fellows have not yet been determined, but Espinoza says she hopes to work either in entertainment news production or television programming. She is currently employed at News 8 in Austin and has done freelance work for the PAX Television Network. Some of her past internships include, The Sally Jesse Raphael Show, Open City Films and Blastro Online Entertainment Network.

For more information contact Tim England in the department of Mass Communication at (512) 245-3904.