About

MU student volunteers mentioned in the Beijing Youth Daily

This is a blog by students from the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. They will be assisting in the 2011 Beijing China Tennis Open. The students will contribute photos, videos, posts and additional information to this blog throughout their time in China.

Link to the 2011 China Open’s Website.

Missouri Journalism Student Profiles

Melissa Gilstrap, 20, is a junior at MU studying magazine journalism and English. Her dream job is to work at a travel magazine or write a novel. She speaks a little Zhong Wen (Chinese) and likes to play guitar in her free time. While in Beijing, Melissa intends to practice her Chinese as much as possible and cover matches and activities at the China Open.

 

Nina Bolka, 20, is a junior at MU studying science and agricultural journalism with an emphasis in magazine writing. Within her major, she also specializes in food and wine studies. While most of Nina’s internships have been spent in a kitchen or food journalism setting, she is branching out at the China Open by coordinating special events for the WTA.

 

Julia Boudreau, 21, is a junior at MU studying magazine journalism. She is a residential life assistant (RA) at MU and is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She is from St. Louis and has an interest in health and nutrition magazines. Julia has been a tennis player since age 12 and hopes the Beijing China Open will help her to expand her skills in sports writing.

 

Peter Schmidt, 21, is a senior at MU studying Strategic Communications. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Peter is from Southlake, Texas and very quick to tell you. This is the farthest Peter has been away from Texas in his life and his first time in China. Peter came to the China Open because he believes that this was an opportunity too great to pass up. While in Beijing, Peter is working with Stefan as a player/media liaison between the ATP and various media outlets.

Chloe Dake, 20, is a senior at MU studying broadcast journalism.  She works within the sports deparment at KOMU-8 and plans to pursue a sports-related broadcasting job. Chloe hopes the experience she receives in China will further her in the knowledge needed for her career.

 

 

Suet Lee, 22, is a senior at MU majoring in sociology and magazine journalism with an emphasis on writing. She is a Chinese-Malaysian from Kuala Lumpur who hopes to be a long form journalist someday. She speaks Malay fluently and broken Chinese. Suet came to China because it sounded like a good opportunity to discover her roots, or lack of thereof, as well as being a part of a great opportunity to practice journalism. She is covering events and partnering with the other MU’s China Open 2011 reporters, writing about the matches.

Molly Bullock, 25, is a first-year graduate student in international journalism. She has an undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Science from Oklahoma State University. Molly has studied in Slovenia and spent time in the Middle East, India, Turkey, Central America, the West Indies, and central and eastern europe. This is her first visit to China.

 

Danny Matteson, 28, is a first-year, graduate convergence journalism student at the University of Missouri and a technology writer at Newsy. He also serves as a graduate assistant to the International Programs office within the University of Missouri’s journalism school. After graduating he hopes to work on documentaries or write for a technology publication. While in Beijing he will be covering matches for the 2011 China Open website.

Erin Meyer, 23, graduated with her Bachelor’s of Journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication from the University of Missouri in 2010. She decided to further her education and is currently pursuing her Master’s of Arts in Journalism degree at MU. Erin currently works as a graduate assistant for the J-School’s Office of International Programs, which is how she became interested in the China Open program. During her time in Beijing, Erin will assist China Open officials in coordinating with the WTA and the media.

Stefan Bellm, 24, is pursuing his master’s in strategic communication at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. Completing a bachelor’s in comparative language studies, he has always had a keen interest in international affairs. Stefan works in the J-School’s Office of International Programs and will liaise with ATP officials and the media during the China Open.

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Carolina Escudero is the director of the Missouri School of Journalism’s Buenos Aires Program and leading the 2011 China Open program.

Escudero is a journalist who specializes in international issues and Gender: European Union – Latin America. She studied journalism at the High School of Journalism TEA in Argentina. She specialized in European Union and Mercosur relationships at Université Robert Schuman in France, after which she completed a master’s on “The Sexual Difference” at the Centre de Recerca de Dones at the University of Barcelona in Spain. Her articles and reports have been published in media in Argentina, Venezuela, England, Spain, France, Belgium, Holland and Serbia. She also publishes her research and gives workshops for journalists on gender perspectives for writing and communicating at Artemisa News Agency.