Journalism student works towards career in political reporting

Allie Lewis

While most students come into college with little to no idea of what they want to do with their majors, never mind their lives, a select few truly know what they want out of life.

From a young age, sophomore journalism major Anna Pirrie always knew she wanted to write. As a child, Pirrie was an avid reader and loved to learn. Her love of learning continued throughout high school and was nurtured most by her honors English teacher, Mrs. Huntington, who’s required the class to write 52 essays that year, rather than the standard 11, expected of all the lower level sections.

“My teacher just spoke with so much conviction about writing and literature in general, and I think that doing that class just kind of made me realize that whatever I do for the rest of my life, I want to write,” Pirrie said.

Since coming to college, Pirrie said she now hopes to report on politics since being inspired after working with the Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a group on campus working towards reform and legalization of marijuana. Last year, Pirrie said she sat in on over eight hours of hearings at the Rhode Island State House when reform legislation was added to the agenda.

Apart from attending hearings or conventions, the group also organizes the annual Hemp Fest to raise awareness for those who go untreated, are incarcerated, or killed because of the War on Drugs.

“I don’t think politics are ever boring,” Pirrie said. “I think sometimes they’re mundane and frustrating, but I also think that’s kind of the beauty of it.”

Pirrie decided to add political science as a second major this year, and has become an advocate for government participation. Participation is government is something Pirrie feels strongly about, since it’s a right not all citizens of the world have the opportunity to practice.

In addition to drug reform, Pirrie is also a strong supporter of reform and equality on multiple levels, from marriage equality to equal pay for women. Being a United States citizen helps her to voice her opinion on these issues, which she appreciates.

Having a bachelor’s degree in political science to compliment her journalism degree is something Pirrie hopes will give her a competitive edge when looking for

Anna Pirrie poses for a photograph on the quad in her Hemp Fest t-shirt. Photo: Allie Lewis

a job after graduation and that it will help her become a more specialized reporter, capable of filling a specific niche. Whether Pirrie will be filling that niche in print or behind the lens, she’s still undecided.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be bored,” Pirrie said. “I think I’ll be stressed, but hey, it’s better than not doing what you really want to do, just because you think you’re not going to get paid. I’d rather be a starving artist than rich and having to be a tax collector.”

International reporting would be Pirrie’s dream job, and she’s given the idea much more thought since listening to Reshad Kulenovic speak at the annual Christiane Amanpour Lecture in International Journalism last year. Kulenovic, who’s traveled and has shot films and documentaries from all over the world, shared some of his documentary highlights from the frontlines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East.

Christiane Amanpour is another international journalist who has significantly impacted to Pirrie, since she hopes to follow closely in her footsteps some day.

“Christiane Amanpour is one of my favorite, strong, female journalist role models,” Pirrie said.