SCAN highlights School of Communications alumni who recently landed jobs in their field. Rachael Horne (BA, Journalism, 2005) works as a reporter for the Teton Valley News in Driggs, Idaho.



SCAN: How did you land your job?
Rachael Horne: The first newspaper I worked for I applied on journalismjobs.com. I wanted to go west, took a chance and loved it. Then I wanted to ski more so I quit, moved closer to the mountains, served coffee and did the ski bum thing at a resort in Wyoming. In the meantime I started freelancing for the Post Register in Idaho Falls when the Teton Valley News contacted me and offered me a full time job.

SCAN: When did you realize this was the career for you?
RH: I’ve just always liked writing. I never really knew what career I wanted.

SCAN: What’s the best way to prepare for an interview?
RH: Be yourself and professional. Bring great clips.

SCAN: Any advice for those looking for a job?
RH: Be willing to go anywhere. There are tons of opportunities everywhere.

SCAN: What classes taught you the most about your chosen industry?
RH: Newspaper Production, Fundamentals of Reporting and Media Law

SCAN: Best on-the-job experience so far?
RH: Writing about fun things I do. I also work with a fun, young staff.



SCAN: Worst on-the-job experience so far?
RH: Mean people and the really, really long county and city government meetings.

SCAN: Company you’d love to work for?
RH: I don’t know. But I might have to quit a job if Rupert Murdoch ever bought the paper I worked for.

SCAN: Person you most admire in your field?
RH: My former editor/publisher Dave Perry at the Rawlins Daily Times. He taught me so much about both the newspaper business and life. He did a little bit of everything at the paper, even delivering newspapers when a paperboy called in sick or helping run the press.

SCAN: What Web site do you visit just to kill time?
RH: www.facebook.com

SCAN: Best way to fuel creativity?
RH: Going outside … and maybe a cocktail.

SCAN: What’s on your desk right now?
RH: A Gorlok bobble head! Coffee cups, notebooks, newspapers, sticky notes. It’s basically a disaster.

SCAN: Favorite fringe benefit of your job?
RH: I can pretty much come and go as I want, as long as I turn in stories on time. I don’t always have to sit in the office. Which means if it’s a powder day I can ski in the morning and work in the afternoon. Or in the summer I can work in the mornings and kayak the rest of the day.

SCAN: Is your current salary more or less than you expected to be making at this point?
RH: I wish I were paid a little more, but it’s pretty much what I expected to be making at this point.

SCAN: What’s on your iPod?
RH: My iPod has been broken for a few months. I’m too poor to get a new one. There was a bit of everything on it though. I’ve been listening to Midnite and Roots Manuva lately. And if anyone gets the chance to see the Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars, go.

SCAN: What do you plan to do on your next paid vacation day?
RH: Surfing in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

SCAN: Things you miss most about Webster?
RH: My friends and 30-cent coffee from the machine.

Did you just land a job in your field? E-mail scan@webster.edu and tell us about it.

Return to Top  

• Words from the Dean

• Opportunities Abound
  … in Arkansas:
  Brian Chilson Talks
  about His Life as a Photojournalist

• Working Without a
  Script: Alumnus
  Frank Popper Earns
  International Acclaim
  for Documentary Film
• Pride in Print: Faculty Publish Books on Nature, Sound and Photographs

• Rachael Horne ’05
  Journalism
• Mandy Tipton ’05
  Public Relations
• Chelsea VandeDrink ’06
  Audio Production

• Home Page
• About SCAN
• Become a GURU
• Send This to a Friend
• Contact Us
• Archived Issues
• Subscribe/Unsubscribe
• Copyright
• SOC Home Page