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Summer as an intern in Los Angeles

How one ASU student and one recent graduate advanced their career goals


Alisa Murphy take a photo on the streets of Los Angeles
September 18, 2019

Alisa Murphy savored her taste of working in the entertainment industry during an internship this summer with Terence Patrick, photographer for James Corden’s “The Late Late Show” in Los Angeles.

Murphy, a graduate student in Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, earned the internship after reaching out to Patrick on Instagram. She experienced her biggest “aha!” moment while visiting Patrick’s workspace at CBS with the “Late Late Show” on summer hiatus. During her visit to the studio, she met staff members and saw the green room and main stage.

“I watch the ‘Late Late Show’ almost every night, so being there backstage and seeing where Terence works and where the ‘Late Late Show’ is filmed was really incredible!” she said. “That will definitely be a day I won’t forget!”

The rest of her days were spent assisting Patrick by registering his photographs to be copyrighted, attending client meetings and learning about his career and various photography projects.

“I am trying to take baby steps in various ways in order to gain more experience in the entertainment industry, and this internship is one of those steps,” she said. “These conversations have led to him telling me valuable tips and advice about photography and entertainment. He may be my boss, but I also see him as a great mentor as well.”

Reporting on national stories

ASU alum Ethan Miller works in the LA office of the Wall Street Journal

Ethan Millman works with Wall Street Journal Los Angeles Bureau Chief Ethan Smith to edit a story during Millman’s internship with the Wall Street Journal. Photo by Jarod Opperman/ASU

Working with The Wall Street Journal gave Ethan Millman a firsthand glimpse at how one of the nation's top newspapers operates.

“It’s allowed me to see up close how some of the greatest journalists in the country do their jobs,” he said.

As a business reporting intern in Los Angeles, Millman’s days were filled with learning the ins and outs of The Wall Street Journal, including the newspaper’s reporting and writing styles. 

“It’s pushed me to think far more analytically than I ever have for finding stories,” he said. “There have been lots of aha moments toward even basic reporting skills I’ve been refining for the past few years.”

Millman, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Cronkite School, previously interned at the Los Angeles Times and the Denver Post covering various business issues. This summer he wrote about a variety of topics, including the California earthquakes.

“What’s so great about the day of a reporter is that it’s never certain what the next day has in store,” he said.

The WSJ mentors have not only provided guidance but have been “invaluable to my development as a young journalist” and have encouraged Millman in both his reporting and writing abilities.

“I have so many mentors here who supply endless advice and insight into my work, which has pushed me every day to find new ways to produce the best work I can,” he said. 

Millman plans to utilize his skills to continue to “tell unique, moving stories that make change, properly inform readers and show them something about the world they hadn’t seen before.”

Written by Ellen Chang, who has been a contributing writer for U.S. News & World Report since 2018. This story originally appeared in the fall 2019 issue of ASU Thrive magazine. 

Top photo: Alisa Murphy spent her summer as an intern for Terence Patrick, photographer for James Corden’s “The Late Late Show” in Los Angeles. Photo by Jarod Opperman/ASU

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