Tess Wilkinson’s Foray into Environmental Journalism: An Internship with the Wild Narrative Project
By Mariana Bohling
Communications Major Tess Wilkinson is already laying the groundwork for a meaningful career in environmental journalism. Through her internship with the Wild Narrative Project, she received firsthand experience reporting on how private interests shape public lands.
Tess interned as an associate journalist at the Wild Narrative Project, a nonprofit media outlet dedicated to investigating how corporate and political forces affect wildlife, ecosystems, and public land access. “I met with the executive editor once a week, and we went over pitches and ideas for stories,” she explained. “The focus of the outlet is how private interests impact public lands, like wildlife and ecosystems.”
Her day-to-day work involved diving deep into environmental issues, researching, reading, and preparing for interviews. She spoke with representatives from major organizations such as Earthjustice, Environment America, and the Western Watershed Project, gaining valuable insight and building strong reporting skills along the way.
Wilkinson also discussed the difficulties that came with the work. “The most challenging part of my internship has been overcoming imposter syndrome,” she shared, “and not just falling into confirmation bias, but actually fairly reporting and seeking the actual truth.” Fortunately, she had the support of her editor. “My internship supervisor helped by giving me grace and encouragement,” she said, a reminder of the power of mentorship in professional growth.
Tess is a strong believer in the value of hands-on experience. “Internships are the best way to prepare for a future career,” she said. “They give you practical experience and the chance to work with a professional.” She also credited her work with The Star, SSU’s student-run newspaper, as another key stepping stone in her development as a journalist.
Looking ahead, Tess feels more confident than ever about her goals. “This has given me experience, and I do want to report on the environment and politics,” she said. “It confirmed that I want to continue doing that.” Her next step? This fall, she’ll be starting a master’s program in journalism at U.C. Berkeley, a competitive program that will give her even more tools to report on the issues she cares most about.
With real-world experience under her belt and graduate school on the horizon, Tess is ready to bring her passion for storytelling, truth-seeking, and environmental justice to a wider stage.