Former KOSU student reporter lands coveted internship role at National Public Radio

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

OSU Journalism Broadcasting Major to Supervise Other NPR Interns
 
STILLWATER, Okla., August 19, 2008 – Lacy Tatroult, a former student reporter at KOSU, the state’s public radio (91.7 fm Stillwater-Oklahoma City and 107.5 fm Bartlesville-Tulsa) has been named Executive Producer for National Public Radio’s Intern Edition.  Tatroult, who worked at KOSU during the spring 2008 semester as part of an independent study course created in partnership with the OSU School of Journalism and Broadcasting, will lead at least 20 interns this fall at NPR headquarters in Washington D.C. in conceiving, developing, reporting, writing, editing and producing a 30 minute audio program, a blog and multi-media content.  
 
“I am very excited to be selected as the lead intern for NPR and look forward to working with my peers while learning from the pros,” Tatroult said.  “I really fell in love with public radio storytelling during my independent study with KOSU and hope to continue building my skills at the national level.”    
 
Tatroult, who came to Oklahoma State University from Lawton, produced numerous long-form radio features while at KOSU, ranging from Oklahoma fashion design to the resurgence of fiddling among Oklahoma’s youth.  You can listen to Lacy’s work at www.kosu.org.  
 
“We are thrilled that Lacy has been chosen for such a high-profile opportunity at National Public Radio,” said Rachel Hubbard, KOSU Associate Director.  “Tatroult was an incredibly gifted radio storyteller during her independent study with KOSU and she will continue to learn and grow working with the best minds in public radio.”  
 
Intern Edition is a training program inside NPR that is put together in the same way as NPR programs.  Since 1999, nearly 90 former interns have become NPR employees.  Nearly 40 more are public radio employees. Executive Producers have a history of staying at NPR and becoming employees once their term is done.
 
“This is a wonderful opportunity for Lacy to train in radio journalism at the highest level,” said OSU Associate Professor John McGuire, who served as Tatroult’s academic advisor during her independent study with OSU.  “I also appreciate KOSU’s support of Oklahoma State University academic mission by giving Lacy and other students the chance for real world experience by working at the station.”
 
The independent study partnership between KOSU and the OSU School of Journalism and Broadcasting is part of Real World Radio, an initiative that provides OSU students with more hands-on opportunities in public radio journalism.  The professional experiences offered through Real World Radio will be especially valuable to students as they prepare to join a media environment that demands skills in print, broadcast and on-line journalism.