by Kaitlin Van Loon
The Omaha World-Herald chose two students from the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications to work as reporting fellows at the newspaper for fall 2020. Will Bauer of Hawley, MN is this year’s Husker and Sports fellow, and Nick McConnell of Lincoln is the Breaking News fellow.
Bauer is a senior broadcasting, journalism and sports media and communication triple major. He spent the summer working as a reporter for Nebraska News Service and Roper Lab and last spring he was a news intern for NET Nebraska’s PBS & NPR stations. Bauer said he is excited to be back at the World-Herald and learning his way around a new department.
Bauer said he is grateful for an opportunity to work at Nebraska’s most trusted newsroom. He knows that regardless of what his future career may be, the experience will serve him journalistically. He welcomes the challenge of an unknown fall sports schedule because it gives him the chance to make an impact and learn something new.
“I believe this new experience will help make me a more well-rounded journalist, and I’m interested in becoming the best journalist and storyteller I can be,” Bauer said.
McConnell is a junior broadcasting and journalism double major, and he’s looking forward to covering events in the Omaha community. From 2018-2019, McConnell was a staff writer at the Daily Nebraskan. He was also a reporting intern at The Lincoln Journal Star and The Beatrice Daily Sun.
CoJMC professor Michelle Hassler encouraged McConnell to apply, and he knew the role would be a good fit because he loves learning about the industry in different newsrooms.
“It means the world to be selected as a news fellow this fall,” McConnell said. “It's great to be working at the biggest paper in my home state, and I'm learning so much from the experience already.”
It’s clear Bauer and McConnell have found their passion for writing in journalism. Both students already have work published on the Omaha World Herald website.
Read Bauer’s “Bellevue East grad diagnosed with cancer after losing insurance, but community rallies around him.”
Read McConnell’s “Omaha ROTC cadets gather at Memorial Park to honor 9/11 first responders.”
About The Omaha World-Herald Fellowship Program
The Omaha World-Herald Fellows are chosen through an application and interview process. In order to apply, students must be enrolled in or have completed the Omaha World-Herald "Real World" class. The class is the result of a partnership between the Omaha World-Herald and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications and is offered to juniors and seniors. During the 15-week class, students learn from a different World-Herald staff member each week on topics such as editing, interviewing and covering all aspects of the news. "Real World" students are eligible to apply for the Omaha-World Herald Fellowship and a summer internship with the newspaper.
