Graduating Senior Spotlight: Q&A with Connor O'Neal

What is your favorite class that you took in CLA? Is there a professor that you particularly enjoyed working with? How did they prepare you for the next phase of your life?

JOUR 4452 - Newscast Producing was my favorite CLA class during my time at the U. I have been interested in getting into TV news for years now and this class really helped me grow as a producer, as a reporter, and most importantly, as a writer. All of the stories that I did in this class helped accelerate my job search during my final spring semester. I used my assignments to update my portfolio/newsreel, which I sent out to lots and lots of news stations across the country.

I could not have done as well as I did in the journalism school without the help of all of my instructors, but especially not without Scott Libin. Scott is the perfect instructor to have for anyone interested in getting into journalism, because he cares so much about your work and your career. He spent decades in multiple newsrooms, so he knows what he's talking about. Scott makes sure that everyone enjoys their time in his classes and feels comfortable, which I think are two things that every student wants to hear when seeking out a professor for their next class.

How would you describe your time in your major?

Journalism truly is the best at the U of M. The instructors here care a lot about you and want to make sure you succeed not only in the classroom, but also outside the educational space. The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication taught me how to be a better writer, include diverse voices in stories, file FOIA requests, and avoid setting myself up to have defamation claims against me. I leveraged all of this into my first internship, which turned into my first journalism job. A lot of the upper division classes may be smaller in size, but these courses allowed me to really connect with my classmates who ended up turning into really good friends outside of school. 

What have you learned about yourself during your time in CLA?

I truly am grateful that I got to spend my collegiate career in CLA, because I wouldn't be where I am today without this college. I learned how to network during my second year at the U. I would like to say that I am a solid networker, because I have gotten further than I could have ever imagined come graduating time. 

During my sophomore year I reached out to a recent U of M grad on LinkedIn with no hope of a response. He got back to me, gave me the contact of the director of Gopher Digital Productions at the time, and I began working part-time there. With that experience, I was able to join student groups and get my first job at a TV news station that following summer. This all goes to show that when your academic advisor or CLA instructors tell you to network, it really works.

If you could go back and give your first-year self one piece of advice, what would it be?

I know everyone told me this growing up, but get out there and do as much as you can because time flies. I can't believe I am graduating and will be done with school forever. It went by so fast, and looking back at it, I wish I had made more friends and explored campus and the city more. The U of M is a big campus and there is a lot to do. Get out there and have the time of your life—I mean it.

What is your favorite study spot on campus?

I mean, Walter Library is gorgeous, but that's too basic. I love getting outside in the fall and later in the spring semester to do any homework or readings under a tree near Tate Hall, in a hammock across from Folwell Hall, or behind Coffman (many people don't know that there is a super cool area behind Coffman to hangout).