Journalism Student Chosen as NBC News Group Summer Fellow

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Wendy Echeverria

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas journalism student Wendy Echeverria is one of six students nationwide chosen for the prestigious NBC News Group Summer Fellows Program. She will intern for NBC’s crime investigative news show Dateline.

Echeverria, a senior in the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism and member of the Honors College, will have a 10-week internship in the program, a partnership of NBC and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Traditionally four students are chosen, but NBC cited the strength of the applicants in selecting six for 2017.

Echeverria will be based in New York City, a place she has never visited before. She said the journalism faculty prepared her for the challenge.

"I see them as more than just faculty members. I see them as encouragers, mentors and life-changers," she said.

She first became interested in journalism during her senior year at Bentonville High School, when she was recruited to join the U of A Lemke Journalism Project.

Each year about 30 Northwest Arkansas high school students spend six weeks working with U of A journalism faculty, students and graduates on diversity reporting projects. Students produce a newspaper, distributed by The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and a television newscast and are eligible for scholarships to study at University of Arkansas.

"LJP is the reason I’m able to do this," Echeverria said. "It gave me the opportunity to work with amazing journalists. After being in the program, I could see myself as a journalist, helping people tell their stories."

"Wendy’s success illustrates our emphasis on student development and diversity," Lemke Journalism Project director Gina Shelton, an instructor in the journalism department, said. "We start investing in young people early and prepare them for top jobs."

Echeverria has qualities important in media. "She’s persistent and perceptive, as well as energetic and engaging,’’ Shelton said.

Echeverria is an intern at KNWA, NBC’s affiliate in Fayetteville. She also volunteers with the Lemke Journalism Project, coaching students who are considering the U of A and journalism. She was part of the founding news reporting team for The Minority Report, a Lemke podcast and television show that focuses on diverse community leaders and issues.

Her ultimate goal is to work in management for a television station or media company. 

``I want to encourage women and minorities in the field and find a way to lead in some way,’’ said Echeverria, who will graduate from the university in December.

The other five NBC fellows are from Northwestern University, the University of California-Berkeley, University of Maryland, University of Southern California, and University of Texas. Echeverria’s internship starts June 5.

For more information, contact Gina Shelton, 479-575-7255, or see the announcement of the fellows.