2008 Woodie Awards
Globe reporter and UNH alumna shares journalism advice with students
Arley DeMark
Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: News
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Jackie Macmullen is a "Boston Globe" sports columnist, ESPN panelist, mother of two children and a UNH alumna.
Tuesday of this week, Jackie Macmullen stood in the very room where she took Newswriting from former professor Donald Murray and spoke to a class of approximately 30 students about her job and how she got there.
"You guys have it easy," she said, indicating the number of modern computers now in the Donald M. Murray Journalism Lab. "We had four typewriters for 30 students."
Macmullen is currently a sports columnist for "The Boston Globe," as well as an off and on panelist for the ESPN show "Around the Horn."
The distinguished columnist told the students that her journey as a writer had begun at UNH, where she learned what made her style unique from others.
During her junior year of college, Macmullen completed her journalism internship at the "Gloucester Times," one of the only family owned and run newspapers left in the Unites States today.
By the time she graduated, Macmullen had numerous clips from the "Gloucester Times," and TNH, but she felt she needed more before applying for a job.
With encouragement from current professor Andrew Merton, Macmullen deferred her graduation until the following spring in order to apply for a "Boston Globe" summer internship unavailable to seniors. Macmullen applied and was hired for a news internship, rather than her preference, sports.
It was at "The Globe" that Macmullen began her career as a sports columnist, a job that would require a lot of her.
"In the beginning you have to sacrifice," Macmullen said. "I traveled 220 out of all 365 days of the year."
In addition to her traveling, Macmullen also had to respond to over 300 love/hate e-mails a day and grow a thick skin while writing about sometimes unpopular topics.
In 1996 Macmullen made the decision to leave "The Globe" to work for "Sports Illustrated" as an NBA writer.
After four years at "Sports Illustrated," Macmullen chose to take two years off and spend time with her two young children. And in 2002, she went back to "The Globe" with the reins in her hand.
Tuesday of this week, Jackie Macmullen stood in the very room where she took Newswriting from former professor Donald Murray and spoke to a class of approximately 30 students about her job and how she got there.
"You guys have it easy," she said, indicating the number of modern computers now in the Donald M. Murray Journalism Lab. "We had four typewriters for 30 students."
Macmullen is currently a sports columnist for "The Boston Globe," as well as an off and on panelist for the ESPN show "Around the Horn."
The distinguished columnist told the students that her journey as a writer had begun at UNH, where she learned what made her style unique from others.
During her junior year of college, Macmullen completed her journalism internship at the "Gloucester Times," one of the only family owned and run newspapers left in the Unites States today.
By the time she graduated, Macmullen had numerous clips from the "Gloucester Times," and TNH, but she felt she needed more before applying for a job.
With encouragement from current professor Andrew Merton, Macmullen deferred her graduation until the following spring in order to apply for a "Boston Globe" summer internship unavailable to seniors. Macmullen applied and was hired for a news internship, rather than her preference, sports.
It was at "The Globe" that Macmullen began her career as a sports columnist, a job that would require a lot of her.
"In the beginning you have to sacrifice," Macmullen said. "I traveled 220 out of all 365 days of the year."
In addition to her traveling, Macmullen also had to respond to over 300 love/hate e-mails a day and grow a thick skin while writing about sometimes unpopular topics.
In 1996 Macmullen made the decision to leave "The Globe" to work for "Sports Illustrated" as an NBA writer.
After four years at "Sports Illustrated," Macmullen chose to take two years off and spend time with her two young children. And in 2002, she went back to "The Globe" with the reins in her hand.
