Four Questions with spring intern jordan maddox

Please welcome Jordan Maddox to the Dala Communications team!  

Jordan started in January as our spring 2023 intern. She’s currently a master's student at the University of North Texas's Mayborn School of Journalism in Denton. She has her B.A. in journalism with two minors in communications and advanced social sciences. Now, she is working towards her M.J. with a focus in digital and print journalism, and she completed her public relations certification in the fall of 2022.  

Why did you choose PR?

The cliche answer would be that knowledge is power. The more that I can learn about different careers that branch off of my degree(s), the more well-rounded I will be as either a journalist or a PR practitioner. I have worked for a number of publications as a writer, but prior to working for Dala I have had the opportunity to dip my toe into some marketing practices. Though I do enjoy working as a journalist, I want to see what the "dark side," as we call it, is all about. 

Why did you choose to pursue a master's degree?

I started my undergraduate in 2018 and graduated in 2021, so half of my degree - arguably the most important half - was spent online due to the pandemic. Without any means to practice my education in a practical setting, I had limited opportunities to develop my skills in a way that made me confident in my role as a journalist or a PR practitioner. I felt that I needed to learn more, and pursuing graduate school was the best decision I could have made for my education.

What are the biggest takeaways that you want to get from this internship?

I want to learn how to properly manage clients on the organizational side. Everything from event planning to media relations, I want to learn it! My background in journalism has made me a confident writer, but I want to understand and implement the processes that make up the PR trade.  

What is a fun fact about you?

On a good day, I can bench press 135 pounds.