In Their Own Words: Alumni in Journalism

Clint Hendler '05

When applying for your first job out of college, it can be hard to frame your undergraduate experience in a way that just might appear relevant to whoever ends up reading your cover letter. But as a senior and recent graduate trying to break into journalism, I remember a sentence that I used all the time: "Sociology gave me the tools to understand the backstory."

Nearly 10 years on, I've come to realize that it was more than a nice-sounding line: things I learned in Silsby Hall about race, identity, income inequality, the welfare state, and theories of political change and revolution have provided vital context throughout my time as a reporter, editor, and news consumer.