In her four years at Stony Brook’s School of Communication and Journalism (SoCJ), Melanie Formosa has done just about everything.
She hosted a podcast about the return to campus after the worst of the pandemic. She relaunched news coverage at WUSB, the campus radio station. She completed several internships: at NPR-affiliate WSHU Public Radio, at Express News Group and at the Suffolk County Water Authority. She worked for the Journalists and Writers Foundation, interviewing officials and delegates during United Nations General Assembly Week. She played a key role in the launch of the Stony Brook Media Group, an initiative to give students more time in the SoCJ production studio. Her efforts have been rewarded with any number of awards, prizes and scholarships.
Though she’s graduating in just a few weeks, Formosa isn’t done yet. Shortly after graduation, she’ll move to London for the Marie Colvin Fellowship, a summer internship with Times Radio, a new venture from the London Times.
“Faculty and staff in the journalism program can attest that I’ve wanted for years to be a Marie Colvin fellow,” said Formosa, of East Northport, NY. “The idea of going abroad for a specific amount of time to contribute to a media outlet is thrilling. But to do so in Marie Colvin’s honor is a privilege.”
Some of the School’s most accomplished graduating seniors have received the fellowship in years past including Sara Ruberg ’22, Rachael Eyler ’20 and Brittany Bernstein ’19. Because of the pandemic, the fellowship was not awarded in 2021.
“Since just about her first moment on campus, Melanie has distinguished herself as a student eager to learn, committed to journalism across media formats and unafraid of taking a risk or two to achieve her goals,” said Laura Lindenfeld, dean of the School of Communication and Journalism and executive director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. “I’m delighted that she will be spending her first summer after graduation working, living and reporting in London. I’m sure we will continue to see wonderful things from her.”
The fellowship is offered annually to a graduating SoCJ student through the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting. The fellow is selected through a competitive application process and chosen by the host media company.
“I’m delighted that Times Radio have chosen Melanie as this year’s Marie Colvin fellow,” said Sarah Baxter, director of the Colvin Center and a journalism instructor. “Her dedication to excellent journalism and to learning all she can from every opportunity is exactly the kind of energy Times Radio is looking for.”
