Michigan News Group Internship
The Michigan News Group Internship program originated in 2019 at WCMU Public Media as a means to train young journalists in multiple journalism styles while helping address rural news deserts in central and northern Michigan. The program places Central Michigan University students with partner news organizations where they cover local communities and produce content for a newspaper, WCMU broadcasts and the websites of both.
This unique partnership allows WCMU to expand its offering to listeners on important issues of the day, help begin filling news deserts in our coverage area, and continue our long tradition of training young journalists. Partner organizations for the 2026 summer include The Alpena News, Traverse City Record-Eagle and Bridge Michigan.
2025 Interns:
Alpena News: Blace Carpenter
Traverse City Record-Eagle: Mia Kerner
WCMU: Masha Smahliuk
WCMU: Alexandrea Ladiski
2024 Interns:
Midland Daily News: Masha Smahliuk
Cadillac News: Draya Raby
Traverse City Record-Eagle: Lauren Rice
Alpena News: Courtney Boyd
2023 Interns:
Alpena News: Zipporah: Abarca
Big Rapids Pioneer: Kaia Zimmerman
Cadillac News: Hadlee Peters
Huron Tribune, Bad Axe: Renae King
Midland Daily News: Kylie Sczepanski
Traverse City Record Eagle: Becky Particka
2022 Interns
Alpena News: Michael Gonzalez
Big Rapids Pioneer: Ben Jodway
Cadillac News: Alexis Seeley
Daily News, Greenville: Sean Chase
Midland Daily News: Jill Harrington
Traverse City Record Eagle: Patrick Bouman
2021 Interns:
Alpena News, Alpena: Benjamin Ackley
Big Rapids Pioneer, Big Rapids: Gena Harris
Cadillac News, Cadillac: Riley Connell
Huron Daily Tribune, Bad Axe: Teresa Homsi
Leelanau Enterprise, Lake Leelanau: Courtney Pedersen
Midland Daily News, Midland: Aurora Abraham
The Daily News, Greenville: Christian Booher
Traverse City Record-Eagle, Traverse City: Michael Livingston
2020 Interns:
Cadillac News: Hunter Dood
Huron Tribune, Bad Axe: Aurora Abraham
Midland Daily News: Michael Livingston
Traverse City Record Eagle: Tess DeGayner
2019 Interns:
Petoskey News Review: Nick Westendorp
Traverse City Record Eagle: Ariana Strzalka