"one of the best decisions I’ve ever made"

When I walked up the steps of the state Capitol building in Harrisburg for the first time, I was extremely nervous. I had never been in the Capitol complex, despite being a Pennsylvania native, and I had little background reporting on the state’s political scheme. I remember wondering what I would think walking down the Capitol steps on my last day, and if I would find all the nerves worth it. I can now confidently say that applying for the PLCA Internship is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I made more connections in one summer than I did at any of my past internships combined. By rotating around the newsroom, I had the chance to meet editors at the state’s top news outlets and connect with seasoned reporters. Every single reporter I worked with genuinely cared about me and my stories and took time out of their busy schedule to address any concerns or questions I had.

The stories I had the chance to write were unlike anything I could’ve imagined. I covered breaking news and pressing issues for the state, and with the help of the reporters I worked with, I never felt like I was given a story I couldn’t handle. I also had the chance to work one-on- one with a veteran reporter who went over specific word choices in my writing and gave me helpful feedback. I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to be a successful journalist.

DaniRae Renno, 2023 Intern
Elizabethtown College