Co-op Feature: Courtney Brooks
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On an international co-op in 2008, Courtney Brooks worked as a Journalist Assistant at the Cape Times, an English language morning newspaper published in Cape Town, South Africa. |
Q: What were your daily responsibilities?
My daily responsibilities at the paper were basically to write between one and three stories a day, on anything ranging from South African politics, to health initiatives, to African bike tours to fires…
Did you gain a new perspective during your time in South Africa?
Being in South Africa made me realize that no matter how far you go from home, people are all essentially the same. It’s bizarre to be in such a beautiful place that has known so much pain. It’s an incredible place to be a journalist.
How did your co-op build upon your classroom experience as a Journalism major?
I never really knew how to write on a deadline before going to South Africa. At the newsroom, I sometimes only had a couple hours for all my reporting and writing, and it made me much more focused when it came to reporting. I can’t imagine another co-op where I would have been able to write so much about such important issues.
Any general thoughts about your experience?
Going abroad to work as a journalist is one of the best choices I’ve made in college. It makes you appreciate your knowledge of American politics and government much more, and the writing opportunities are endless. South Africa in particular is a country with tons of problems, but it is an incredible place to live.