In the latest instalment of our Alumni Spotlight series, we speak to international graduate Karli Olson, who studied MA in Journalism.
From her first time living alone and gaining hands-on experience with industry experts to Emmy nominations, Karli discusses how her time in UL changed the trajectory of her career.
Tell us about yourself?
Hi! I'm Karli Olson, and I am a 26-year-old journalist living in Portland, Oregon. I grew up in Harrisburg, a little town outside of Eugene, Oregon, and I was homeschooled all the way through high school.
After attending online courses for my undergraduate degree, I attended the University of Limerick for a Master's program.
What course did you study, and what year did you graduate?
I earned my MA Journalism at UL and graduated in 2020, which means nearly half of my degree was done virtually due to the pandemic!
Why did you choose to study at UL?
I knew that I wanted to be able to pursue my traveling dreams while also gaining meaningful experience in my career field, and I had always had a particular interest in Ireland (maybe it's because of the red hair!).
I saw that UL had a really well-rounded journalism course rather than focusing on just one aspect of journalism like print or radio, and I felt this would give me a better idea of how exactly I wanted to use my skills.
What were the highlights of your course?
I had a number of favourite courses, including radio journalism, news writing, and being able to create our own student newspaper.
However, the course that made the most significant impact on me was definitely my broadcast journalism class with Fergal Quinn. I had previously wanted a career in print journalism, and that class helped me to see that the way I wrote and wanted to tell stories was best suited to broadcast news.
I was shy and unsteady in those skills at first, but the encouragement and guidance I received there gave me the courage I needed to step out on a new path in life.
As an AHSS student, you had the opportunity to learn from some of the top academic talent, in state-of-the-art facilities. What was your experience like as a student here?
I greatly enjoyed the instruction I received from professors who had personally worked in the field and understood the demands of the job, and had proven themselves to be experts in the profession.
The library was absolutely incredible and I found myself there often, and our journalism lab was in an intimate setting where we could have discussions and work collaboratively during classes.
We had access to the latest editing and layout softwares, as well as news articles from all over the world.
It was wonderful to get a taste for so many aspects of journalism, and to get hands-on experience with things like making a newspaper layout, performing interviews, seeking out our own news stories to tell, and learning to use the right tools to do so.
I came away with a solid foundation and a path forward for my life outside of the classroom.
What advice would you offer to students considering studying at UL?
I would definitely advise doing plenty of research into what it means to relocate to another country, and making sure it's an opportunity you believe you can truly grow from.
Living across the world is a big decision and it can be tough to be away from family and friends and your usual setting, and it's important to make sure you have all of the facts before you get started.
I'd recommend reaching out to current and past students to get a good feel for what campus life and classes are like, to make sure it's a good fit for you.
I would also highly recommend living on campus as well - I lived off-campus, and it definitely made it a little bit tougher to get involved with clubs and societies and see the friends I had made!
All in all, I think University of Limerick's reputation speaks for itself - it's a fantastic place to build international friendships, to learn from the best, and to gain enthusiasm for whichever field you choose.
On top of that, you get to live in Ireland and explore one of the most beautiful countries in the world, as well as being a stone's throw away from plenty of other beautiful European countries!
Living in Limerick specifically was also excellent; it has plenty to do but is not too big or overwhelming, and it's very close to both the sea and other charming towns.
And what advice would you offer to students considering studying your course?
I think the MA Journalism course is a great option for those who have a passion for writing and journalism, but want to learn more about what the various facets of journalism have to offer.
I went in with a passion but not much direction, and this course was an excellent place to fine tune my skills and decide how I wanted to use them.
Were you a member of any clubs or societies?
I was a member of the International Society, and it was wonderful to have easily accessible and affordable opportunities to join up with other international students to take trips all around the country.
The International Society gave me my first trips to the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, the Ring of Kerry, and Killarney.
What are some of your favourite memories from your time at UL?
Stepping onto campus and seeing the beautiful buildings for the first time was such a special moment.
I loved spending time with my friends in student housing, going out on the town or to Stables on the weekends, and once again, exploring all around Ireland and being shocked by just how GREEN it can actually be. Trust me, it's greener than you think.
At UL, we’re known as the ‘Home of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced as a UL student, that you would like to share?
I loved dancing my first Irish folk dances, trying various foods for the first time (black pudding anyone?) and most of all, living out on my own and across the world for the first time.
It was a huge lesson on how to build my own community and figure tough things out on my own!
Are there any campus locations that hold special significance to you?
When I was particularly stressed with coursework or anything else in my life, I loved just stepping down on the banks of the Shannon River and watching the peaceful waves and swans.
It became a go-to spot for decompressing and sorting out my thoughts. Other than that, I know everyone probably says this, but- THE LIBRARY!!
How did your course and your overall UL experience prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating?
The video stories I put together as part of our broadcast module were the direct reason that I got my first internship at my first news station!
I got a good sense of the type of writing and video editing that would set me up for success in the broadcast news world, and it set me apart from other applicants when applying for jobs in my field.
Could you update us on where you are now in your career?
I currently work as a TV news reporter for KPTV News. We cover a lot of local news here in Portland, and all over our state.
I've been at this station for almost a year, and before that, I was working as a reporter at Central Oregon Daily News in Bend, which is in Central Oregon.
What has been a career highlight so far?
I'm really proud that last year I was nominated in the Multimedia Journalist category for our regional Emmy awards, but my favourite moments in my career have been telling stories about people coming together for various good causes or individuals who want to improve their communities. It's been so inspiring to meet so many passionate people.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to continue telling stories in the Portland area and in my state for the foreseeable future, as it's my home state and I'm passionate about contributing to good journalism here. I'm hoping to eventually be at the anchor desk more often and grow in my investigative journalism skills.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I'd like to thank my professors at UL who believed in me and encouraged me, and the friends and classmates who helped me along my journey.
I'm so grateful for the time I spent in Ireland, and the academic, social, and travel adventures that I got to have while I was there. I now have an abundance of treasured memories that I get to share for the rest of my life.