Speak Out
Sarah Chakales
Outstanding Electronic Journalism Senior
for Reporting

Professor Rick Peterson on Sarah's accomplishments:

Sarah Chakales’s excellent work has been recognized in regional and national news competitions.

Her story last fall about South Carolina’s severe drought took first place for general assignment reporting in the Society of Professional Journalist’s Mark of Excellence southeast regional awards. Video>

For the last two years, Sarah placed in the top 20 in the national Hearst competition, placing 7th and 13th.

Twice she received the Radio and Television News Directors Association of the Carolinas Scholarship.

She has also received the South Carolina Broadcasters Association Scholarship and the Shafto Scholarship from WIS-TV.

Sarah will spend the 2008-2009 academic year studying journalism at the University of Hong Kong on a Rotary Scholarship.

Also on the Web: CNN internship an 'invaluable' experience

Sarah Speaks Out:

Why did you choose USC?

There were actually many factors that led me here. I was born in Columbia and my father received two degrees from USC, so I was really interested in maintaining that connection. I had also heard wonderful things about the journalism program, and the scholarship money certainly didn't hurt.

Why electronic journalism?

As a child I was intrigued by television news, but I didn't consider the career potential until junior year of high school while I was touring colleges. I had the opportunity to sit in the newsroom for a live Carolina News broadcast and everything that could have possibly gone wrong for that show, did. The best way to describe the scene was chaos. A virtual stool magically appeared during the weather segment and despite the director's (emphatic and expletive-filled) pleas, the weather woman for the day continued to walk back and forth through it. There was screaming, scrambling and screw ups, and although I was only a fly on the wall for the 30-minute broadcast, I felt the adrenaline rush just as much as everyone else in the room. Leaving that day I knew I had to have that feeling again.

Favorite/most beneficial class?

This is a really tough question because I feel like so many of my classes were beneficial. If I had to choose one though I'd pick JOUR 326 because it was my first experience actually working with the equipment and crafting a story. My one reporter package for that class was on the Avian Influenza and how it may affect South Carolina's poultry industry, which to my surprise ended up placing 7th in a national Hearst student journalism competition.

What will you miss most about college?

I'll miss the obvious things... free time, naps and all of the wonderful people I've met along the way.

And you won't miss?

I won't miss doing work for classes that I had absolutely no interest in.

What are you really passionate about?

I'm passionate about life and making a positive impact through all of my endeavors. I'm also very passionate about people, which is why I look forward to a career as a reporter and having the opportunity to share the stories of those around me in the community. Finally, and on some days most importantly, I'm passionate about Ben and Jerry's Half Baked ice cream... SO good!

Has there been a "defining moment" or significant event  in your college experience?

I'm not sure if it's a defining moment, but something that really set the tone for the rest of my college career was making a 4.0 my first semester of freshman year. It made me want to maintain a high level of scholastic excellence throughout the rest of my time in school, which is something that I never placed a lot of importance on in high school. It kind of changed my whole mentality and made me want to strive to be the best in all that I did.

What do you hope to do after graduation?

Eventually I would like to pursue a career as a political or foreign correspondent. In the short-term, I will be getting a Masters in Journalism in Hong Kong for the next year.

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for other students in your major?

My best advice is to really devote yourself to Jour 326 because that's the course where you need to decide if you can not only handle the pressures and deadlines of this major, but if it's something you enjoy doing. I unfortunately know many students who coasted through a lot of the upper level journalism courses, and then once in Senior Semester decided this wasn't actually the career path for them. I think it's a shame they wasted all that time and money when they could have changed majors earlier. It's also hard in Senior Semester when you have people that clearly do not want to be there because each day's success depends on a team effort and negative attitudes only hold the group back.

Any parting words or something you'd like to say to your SJMC family, or anyone else, before you head out the door?

This question almost makes me want to cry. The SJMC faculty and staff have been instrumental in my success as a journalism student. They started as mentors and have now become my friends. I'm so grateful for everyone and the lessons they've provided me along the way. I'm really REALLY going to miss this place.

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