Podcast Summary: "The Value of Internships: Gaining Experience and How One Leads to the Next"

Hillsdale College Podcast Network Superfeed | Beyond the Bubble
Date: October 21, 2025
Host: Chloe Noeller
Guest: Elizabeth Mitchell, Hillsdale Class of 2024, White House Correspondent for The Daily Signal

Episode Overview

This episode explores the critical role of internships in building a successful career in journalism and public policy. Elizabeth Mitchell, a recent Hillsdale graduate and now White House Correspondent for The Daily Signal, shares her journey—from campus involvement to multiple internships and her present-day work in D.C. The discussion dives into practical advice for students, insights on navigating a journalism career, and reflections on the power of experience and community.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Journey to the White House Correspondence Role

[01:29-03:28]

• Elizabeth majored in Politics, minored in Journalism, and was highly active in campus journalism, culminating as editor-in-chief of The Collegian.
• Her career at The Daily Signal began with coverage of social issues and evolved into White House reporting post-President Trump’s inauguration.
• The role is high-paced and adaptive: schedules arrive late at night and duties range from press briefings to presidential events and investigative stories.
  • Memorable Detail: Elizabeth describes the unpredictability of her schedule, receiving the president’s agenda between 9-11pm each night, requiring adaptability (“Keeps you on your toes.” [02:12])

2. Internships as Stepping Stones

[03:28-05:05]

• Elizabeth’s pathway was paved by successive internships:
  • Remote internship for Center Square (covering Arizona news while living in Florida).
  • National Journalism Center/Washington Free Beacon, summer in D.C.
  • The Daily Signal during junior year, Fox News the following summer, freelance writing for The Daily Signal through senior year.
  • Hired full-time immediately after graduation.
• Insight: Each internship built different skills—writing basics, investigative journalism, and balancing multiple story forms.

3. Key Takeaways from Internship Experiences

[05:05-06:31]

• Learning to write clear news stories and practice investigative journalism.
• Prioritizing productivity and initiative:
  • Quote [05:57]: “If you try to just write as much as you can, get as much, do as much as you can, just always come up with ideas of things you can do and do them... consider yourself and hold yourself like you’re a full-time employee, because if you do that, people might even forget you’re an intern and then they’ll definitely want to hire you.” – Elizabeth Mitchell

4. Life and Community in D.C.

[06:31-07:36]; [11:27-12:06]

• Transitioning to D.C. is easier with an existing network—many Hillsdale alumni live and work there.
• Current environment includes a government shutdown, but the city maintains its vibrancy and opportunities for work and recreation.
• Strong Christian and conservative communities, especially at Capitol Hill Baptist Church.

5. Work-Life Balance in High-Pressure Journalism

[07:36-08:30]

• Initial difficulty separating from 24-hour news.
• Learning to prioritize (“determine what is a big enough priority to be worth doing on the weekend or after work hours” [07:54]).
• Hillsdale’s busy culture fosters preparedness for handling many responsibilities.

6. Navigating the White House Press Corps

[09:04-10:35]

• The White House press environment is intensely competitive but supportive.
• Elizabeth highlights the camaraderie among journalists from similar and differing outlets—forming friendships, sharing meals, and exchanging advice.
• Press pool trips offer opportunities to connect with a diverse range of professionals.

7. Unexpected Challenges: Print Journalists on TV

[10:35-11:27]

• Surprised by the frequency of TV appearances required.
  • Quote [10:53]: “I was not aware of how common it is for journalists who primarily do print... to do TV interviews... becoming more confident talking on TV and making points... in a verbal way instead of a written way.”

8. Advice for Aspiring Journalists & Maximizing College

[12:06-13:26]

• Start collecting “clips” (writing samples) early—these matter more than grades or majors for journalism jobs.
• Get involved in campus journalism for editing support and a strong portfolio.
• Internships are vital—not just for experience, but network-building.
  • The D.C. journalism world is interconnected; past internship relationships often resurface professionally.
  • Quote [12:50]: “Everyone knows each other in D.C. all the editors know each other. People change jobs all the time. You just never know when you might end up working with someone who you interned with in the past.”

9. Recommended Internship Programs & Courses

[13:26-15:22]

• Top Internship Programs:
  • National Journalism Center through YAF (includes stipend and Friday training).
  • Heritage Foundation internship (offers cross-departmental learning).
• Most Helpful Classes at Hillsdale:
  • “Advanced Writing” with Mr. Miller (“probably the best class I took at Hillsdale” [14:17]).
  • Political Journalism with Mr. Miller (especially insightful for students less familiar with political history).
  • Shakespeare and Politics with Dr. Carrington.
  • Grammar class in the Education Department for sentence structure and clarity.

10. Final Reflection: Embracing Unplanned Paths

[15:22-15:58]

• Quote [15:36]: “You just never know where what you’re going to end up doing. I would just not hold on too tightly to any plans because you just never know what God has in store for you.”
• Examples of unexpected career turns and the value of openness.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Elizabeth Mitchell [05:57]:
  “If you try to just write as much as you can… always come up with ideas of things you can do and do them. And… hold yourself like you’re a full-time employee, because then people might even forget you’re an intern and they’ll definitely want to hire you.”

• Elizabeth Mitchell [10:53]:
  “I was not aware of how common it is for journalists who primarily do print… to do TV interviews. So… becoming more confident talking on TV… has been one of the biggest areas of growth I’ve had over the past year.”

• Elizabeth Mitchell [12:50]:
  “Everyone knows each other in D.C... People change jobs all the time. You just never know when you might end up working with someone who you interned with in the past.”

• Elizabeth Mitchell [15:36]:
  “You just never know where what you’re going to end up doing. I would just not hold on too tightly to any plans because you just never know what God has in store for you.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Elizabeth’s Hillsdale Experience and Career Path: 01:29-03:28
• Internship Progression: 03:28-05:05
• Critical Lessons from Internships: 05:05-06:31
• Life in D.C. & Professional Community: 06:31-07:36; 11:27-12:06
• Work-Life Balance Challenges: 07:36-08:30
• White House Press Experience: 09:04-10:35
• Print Journalists & TV: 10:35-11:27
• Advice to Aspiring Journalists: 12:06-13:26
• Best Internships & Classes: 13:26-15:22
• Reflections on Unplanned Paths: 15:22-15:58

Conclusion

Elizabeth Mitchell’s story underscores the indispensable value of internships for practical skills, networking, and launching a professional career in journalism. Her advice emphasizes initiative, openness to opportunity, and leveraging both academic and extracurricular experiences. The conversation offers a candid look at the realities of life as a White House correspondent and the vibrant, interconnected career landscape of Washington, D.C.