Scribe Power

By Jenny Barnett, Kim Nagy, October 4, 2024

Careers Flourish from Confidence, Connections, and Clips

(Clockwise from top left) Rachael Powles '22, Meg Tippett '20, Grace Collins '22, Nick Fustor '18, and James Baratta '22.

(Photos submitted)

How do aspiring writers become published writers and gain a proven track record that will demonstrate their skills to employers? As best-selling writer Augusten Burroughs quipped, “The best way to be a writer is to be a writer.”

In this article, you’ll meet five writers who gained confidence, connections, and clips by writing for the IC community where they first honed their craft. All of these student writers developed their confidence and skills by penning stories about IC that covered an array of student, faculty, and alumni narratives.

As they watched their ideas materialize into published pieces and saw their bylines in print, these students not only demonstrated their talent. They also appreciated life at Ithaca College all the more, and their enthusiasm for the IC community grew with their portfolios. A few of these writers continue to write about the campus community that transformed their personal and professional lives.

James Baratta '22

(Photo submitted)

Major: Journalism
Current endeavor: Institutional investment reporter for MandateWire, a Financial Times company

James Baratta ’22 joined the IC News team as a sophomore, looking for a steady stream of income while refining his writing skills. “And that’s exactly what I found,” said the journalism major. The role also appealed to his “self-starter” mentality, offering the opportunity not only to pen stories but also pitch ideas and shoot photos to accompany his articles. Baratta enjoyed crafting community-driven content around the IC experience.

“I was able to tell human interest stories that reflected the growth my peers experienced during their tenure as well as how faculty support students in their academic endeavors,” he said. “To me, IC is a mosaic of folks who represent different parts of the country and the world. We have a wonderful campus community, and I’m glad to have been able to show how and why that is the case. The stories we told were meant to highlight all the good at IC. Fortunately, there was an of excess this, so there was never a time when I didn’t know what to cover.”

“IC is a mosaic of folks who represent different parts of the country and the world. We have a wonderful campus community, and I’m glad to have been able to show how and why that is the case.”

James Baratta '22

A particular highlight was covering a roundtable discussion hosted by the Park Center for Independent Media on the importance of investigative journalism, which featured writers from The Intercept. Baratta had long admired the outlet’s relentless reporting and found the opportunity humbling to speak with Rodrigo Brandão ’01, The Intercept’s senior director of communications and strategy. “He told me that IC allowed him to develop intellectually not just vocationally,” said Baratta. “Now that I’ve graduated, I can say that I had a similar experience during my tenure.”

As for honing his reporting chops, Baratta believes his time as a student writer played a major role in sharpening his interviewing technique. “I recently interviewed the Connecticut state treasurer and found myself thinking back to when it was a challenge for me to ask the right questions at the outset of my journalistic journey. I can say for certain that my time with IC News was instrumental to the success I’ve had since starting at the Financial Times roughly a year ago.”

Grace Collins ’22

(Photo submitted)

Major: Integrated marketing communications
Current endeavor: Marketing specialist for Cornell University’s Office of Alumni Affairs and Development

Grace Collins ’22 was given her first assignment for IC News just a few weeks after arriving on campus. “I really didn’t know what to expect coming into the role,” said Collins. “I knew it would involve telling student and faculty stories, but the opportunities that opened up for me went so beyond my wildest expectations. “I had always been a confident writer, but through this job I found that storytelling came really naturally to me. As I would interview students and faculty, I could feel the structure of the story taking shape in my head. I would jot down phrases or sentences as we were talking, and those would usually end up in my final draft. It was so fun to feel those skills develop over the years.”

It was those opportunities and skills—and the connections she made through IC—that helped land Collins an internship at Cornell and ultimately led to her current position as a marketing specialist in Cornell’s Office of Alumni Affairs and Development. “Having published writing samples and being able to demonstrate to employers and clients that I know how to execute a story, start to finish, has been so beneficial in my career,” she said. Collins worked as a marketing and communications assistant in Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement her senior year at IC, taking up a position there as marketing communications coordinator after graduation. She moved to her current role in November 2023.

As a student staff writer for IC News, Collins crafted stories and interviewed sources. She specialized in event coverage and recalls one of her favorite assignments as an article on Cortaca 2019 at MetLife Stadium. “It was really early on in my time at IC, and it got me out of my comfort zone in terms of walking up to people and just starting a conversation with them,” she said. “It’s a skill that I’ve used ever since.”

She also mentored other students, guiding them through the editorial process, and penned features that celebrated the accomplishments of students and faculty. “It was so special to tell stories that really mattered,” she said, “and to write about work being done to make campus a better, more inclusive place.”

She also loved the challenges of digging deeper and uncovering connections that come with being a journalist. Patrick Bohn ’05, MS ’07, assistant director of news strategy and operations in IC’s Division of Marketing and Communications, credited Collins with having a knack for “unearthing cool nuggets” of information—a treasured compliment.

“Having published writing samples and being able to demonstrate to employers and clients that I know how to execute a story, start to finish, has been so beneficial in my career.”

Grace Collins '22

There were other plus sides to the experience, too. “This job made me so appreciative of the Ithaca College community,” said Collins. “It can be so easy to stay siloed into your academic school and only ever make connections with people who have similar interests and goals as you. By interviewing students and faculty across different programs, my worldview expanded, and I met so many incredible people.”

Collins also credits her breadth of experience at IC with giving her the confidence she needed to believe she could make it in her chosen field—and confirming that she wanted to work in a college environment. “It’s such a unique, special place, and the storytelling opportunities are endless,” she said. “I really enjoyed the work I did there. I came into Ithaca College as an integrated marketing communications major, but I didn’t know exactly what direction I wanted my career to take. I figured that since I liked the higher ed work I had done previously, I might as well continue exploring that sector and see where it led. Now, four years later, I work full time in higher ed.”

Collins still has a side gig as a freelance writer for IC. “The Ithaca College community is so special to me, so being able to still tell the stories of the people and events on campus truly means the world. I still live in Ithaca, so it was an easy yes when I was asked if I wanted to continue working for IC News,” she said. “Covering events like the Special Olympics, Cortaca, and graduate Commencement have been incredible opportunities that will stay with me forever.”

Nick Fustor '18

(Photo submitted)

Major: Journalism
Current endeavor: Community relations manager for World Wrestling Entertainment

When Nick Fustor ’18 first arrived at IC in fall 2015 as a transfer student, he was set on becoming a sportswriter. “I had just left an architecture program at another institution where I was humbled by my inability to draw a straight line,” he said. “But the main thing I learned in my freshman year was that I loved to write.”

Fustor entered the Park School’s journalism program with the goal of sharpening his reporting skills. He also threw himself into the media opportunities IC offered. He joined The Ithacan—which became a central element of his time on South Hill. Later that year, he interned for the Division of Marketing and Communications, producing content for ICView and IC News. “At the time, I thought it sounded like a great way to expand my skillset for my future career,” he recalled. “But it wound up much more than that.” His IC News experience became the first step on the road to determining his professional trajectory, which ultimately took him to corporate communications, brand storytelling, and community engagement.

Like Collins, Fustor enjoyed learning more about what was happening across campus through his journalism. He was fascinated to meet Professor Ari Kissiloff, who translated his travels to more than 300 U.S. National Parks into a first-year seminar course, and Rani Jacobson ’13, who joined the National Park Service upon graduation and created a canoeing program to bring underserved Boston youths into nature. Fustor also met one of his best friends, Morgan Atkins ’18, through the job—while writing a series that followed students through their four years at IC. “These types of stories not only expanded my view of the scope of work being done at Ithaca College,” said Fustor. “It gave me a deeper appreciation and understanding of an institution that is committed to providing its students, faculty, and community members with a positive and supportive learning and working environment.”

During his two and a half years as an IC News reporter—which included his time as a senior when he interned for NBCUniversal—Fustor shifted his aspirations away from sports writing to marketing and communications. Upon graduation, he accepted a full-time role as a community and communications coordinator in the NBC department where he had interned.

After a year, he moved to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), landing first as a community relations coordinator before being promoted to community relations manager, where he works with WWE nonprofit partners to support the company’s larger marketing efforts for live events and broader philanthropic initiatives. “I’ve had the incredible opportunity to travel around the country and the world to support a brand I love and give back to communities in need,” he said.

Rachael Powles ’22

(Photo submitted)

Majors: Culture and communication, theatre studies
Current endeavor: Obtaining a master’s degree in theatre theory and dramaturgy at the University of Ottawa

In late 2020, studying from her childhood bedroom during the pandemic, Rachael Powles ’22 felt far away from Ithaca in more ways than one. With in-person productions and classes paused, she had fewer outlets for creativity. And even before the pandemic, the intensity of her workload and schedule as a double major in the theatre studies and culture and communication programs meant she sometimes felt isolated from the wider campus community. When she saw a job opening for student reporters with IC News, she jumped at the chance to make some new connections. Powles was hired in January 2021, just as the campus returned to a hybrid learning model. “Hopping between Zoom calls and socially distanced events, I witnessed first-hand how many students, faculty, and staff were committed to keeping IC’s programming engaging and enlightening,” she said.

Like many student writers, Powles found her experience as a reporter brought her into contact with a much broader cross section of the campus community. “I formed relationships with people that I might never have otherwise interacted with, and I often found myself learning new things along the way. I listened in on panels about mathematics and biology, attended orchestra concerts and art gallery openings. I went to celebrations organized by first-generation students, BOLD scholars, MLK scholars, and many other groups working diligently to make this community great.”

One of Powles’ final assignments before graduating was covering Ithaca Today, an event for admitted students hosted by the admission office. By this time, her senior year, campus was fully in person and accepted students were visiting campus and engaging in activities as they prepared to make their final decisions. She was inspired by her peers’ professionalism, their openness and willingness to answer a host of questions. “I chatted with several incoming students, all so thrilled to be making Ithaca their home just as I was about to leave it,” she said

“Theatre and journalism are closely connected. Both involve listening and storytelling, exercising empathy, and communicating effectively.”

Rachael Powles ’22

Now pursuing a master’sin theatre theory and dramaturgy at the University of Ottawa, Powles uses daily the skills she learned with IC News. “Theatre and journalism are closely connected. Both involve listening and storytelling, exercising empathy, and communicating effectively,” she said.

The expertise Powles gained through her time at IC also had impact beyond the purely professional. “In the last three years, I’ve gone from a person scared to answer a phone call to a person who effortlessly introduces myself to strangers,” she said. “I go to events I never would have given a second thought to because now I know there’s always something more to learn. The journalism skills I’ve practiced have made me a more inquisitive, thoughtful communicator, and I’ve been able to take writing jobs to supplement my income during school.”

A year away from her master’s degree, Powles continues freelancing for IC remotely, interviewing alumni on how their experiences at the college have influenced their work. “No matter where I go in the world, a piece of my heart will always live in Ithaca, and continuing to write has kept me tied to the community. I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunities this work-study job has given me.”

Margaret Tippett ’20

(Photo submitted)

Majors: Sociology and writing (piano minor)
Current endeavor: Passing the bar in the State of Maryland after graduating from law school

Law school graduate Margaret Tippett ’20 applied to be a student writer at IC not just to gain experience injournalism and writing but also to develop her public speaking skills and learn how to formulate questions for interviews. She was looking forward to gathering information about the work of IC community members and their impact on the local area—and sharing that with alumni, students, and others.A sociology and writing major, Tippet wanted to apply what she learned in her writing courses to real-life opportunities. “I knew that there would be some pieces that required an informative tone while others would call for a persuasive tone,” she said.

The job delivered on her expectations—and more. As she developed and applied her communications skills, she also expanded her knowledge beyond the “bubble” of her major. Assignments exposed her to parts of the IC community she wouldn’t otherwise have interacted with. “I was always able to find a common interest between myself and the people that I met. It helped me to feel connected to Ithaca and those who live here,” she said.

During her senior year, Tippett wrote a piece about IC sport management students who worked as interns at the 2020 Super Bowl. Not being a sports fan, she was somewhat hesitant to take on the job. “I was so nervous to ask the wrong questions!” she said. But she was able to put the story together and, again, interacted with a different group of students and broadened her knowledge. “Throughout my time as a student writer, I gained a deeper understanding and connection to Ithaca College that extended beyond the surface perception that we were just another college in upstate New York,” said Tippett. “I met with people from different studies, walks of life, and backgrounds that helped me to see IC as a vibrant and dynamic community of people, each with their own journey and life experience.”

Tippett also found herself becoming more comfortable around people. She struggled to feel confident in her academic skills, and her writing role helped to reinforce her belief in her talents. “I was capable of conducting a professional interview, writing a story, and completing edits. It felt great to apply what I was learning and get a feel for a job that I could pursue in the future,” she said.

She found the scheduling and time-management skills she developed extremely helpful as she went through law school but credits the most important takeaway from her time as a reporter as learning compassion. “It is easy to think that everyone has a similar experience to you—especially in college,” Tippet said. “However, in reality, that’s just not the case. As a writer, I had to craft questions that respected each individual’s background and experience. I had to learn how to write my stories in a way that was respectful and inclusive. I sometimes had to ask tough questions. I had to know what information was appropriate to include, and what was better left kept between interviewer and interviewee.

“As a law student, and currently as a judicial law clerk, I interact with people who did not have the same resources I had growing up,” said Tippett. “I think back to interviews I conducted and rely on those experiences to remind me that different access to resources can significantly impact one’s path in life. Today, I am focused on achieving empathy and fairness in my work and am grateful that I was able to interact with so many people during my time as a student writer.”