MEET MASS MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GRACE SMITH ’22 BY ADRIENNE HARRISFRIED ’22
Editor-in-Chief Grace Smith ’22 was dedicated to The Mass Media—UMass Boston’s student-run newspaper—before she even stepped foot on campus. Currently finishing up her second year as head of the publication, Smith said her time at the newspaper shaped her college years and presented opportunities that she would not have otherwise had. “The paper has paid for me to do things, and it’s given me connections. We get to go to conferences, and I can get press passes to go to exhibits, concerts, and events,” said Smith. “Those experiences are things that would normally be exclusive or expensive if I wasn’t part of The Mass Media.” Smith chose to enroll at UMass Boston because of the paper, and she attended her freshman orientation with the goal of landing a job on it. “I was able to step into the role as arts and lifestyle editor, which is atypical for a freshman with minimal experience,” said Smith. “But I had a lot of drive and passion for journalism, which I think they saw. Before we even had our first day at school, I had already driven two hours to go to the first Mass Media meeting.” This position opened a new world of possibilities for Smith. She attended concerts, wrote reviews, and interviewed pop singer-songwriter Christian French twice. Smith dined in multiple restaurants and attended events in Boston as well, including Glow Boston’s Halloween Party
in 2019; the Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker; and Boston Fashion Week, where she interviewed the models and head designer. Smith’s ultimate promotion to editorin-chief should have been a celebratory time—but then COVID struck. The global shutdown caused difficulties for the paper. “During COVID, I was completely on my own and had no training. It was harder than usual to get students involved. All the clubs and organizations were struggling. It was hard to build upon the paper with little involvement,” said Smith, adding that the return to campus reignited student interest. “COVID helped me to grow a lot and step up when I really wasn’t fully prepared…. It gave me great experience for the workplace.” The knowledge she gained from The Mass Media allowed her to secure two internships at small businesses, where she handles marketing and communications. Smith is on track to graduate this month with a degree in communications and a concentration in professional and new media writing. After graduation, she hopes to continue writing for a newspaper or magazine that reviews music. But before she leaves, Smith has one more goal. “I would love to see the paper get the recognition that it deserves. I want more
Two students enjoying the student-run paper, circa 1985. Were you part of the The Mass Media when you were a student, or recall your favorite spot to read it? Share your memories with us at alumni@umb.edu.
students picking it up and more students getting involved,” said Smith. “We are a staple of the UMass Boston community. The students that we do have on our team are so hardworking and they deserve to have their work read.” Read more stories by students at The Mass Media at umassmedia.com.
UMass Boston Spring 2022
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