7 interns to join The Charlotte Observer newsroom in summer 2023

The Charlotte Observer in June will welcome seven talented interns who are eager to serve you and learn on the job.

As in years past, our reporting and visuals interns will take the wheel on important stories in news and sports this summer. All are current college students and were selected from more than 200 applications.

You’ll notice their bylines on stories about a range of topics including local government, public safety, sports and business. You may see them meeting with sources at a coffee shop near you. You’ll find them on social media sharing real-time updates about local news. And I hope you’ll email or call them to share good story ideas and tips (contact info will be on their stories).

Our internship program offers paid full-time placement for 10 weeks, working directly with an editor and alongside professional mentors and colleagues. If you are interested or know someone who should apply for next year’s program, be on the lookout for applications opening in the fall.

Here’s a look at the 2023 Observer intern class:

Mari Pressley, Winthrop University

In the summer, Mari will be a rising senior mass communication student at Winthrop. She is the managing editor and formerly a copy editor and social media editor at The Johnsonian, Winthrop’s student newspaper. She previously interned at Credit Karma in Charlotte with its editorial and marketing staff and worked as arts, culture and tech editor on campus.

Sarah Effress, Northwestern University

Sarah will be joining The Observer’s sports desk this summer as a rising senior and fellow with the Sports Journalism Institute. Last year, she was editor-in-chief for SB Nation’s Inside NU. She has worked previously with WNUR Sports and CBS News Los Angeles Sports Central. She is co-vice president for the Northwestern Association for Women in Sports Media.

Terry Benjamin, Claflin University

Terry will join us after graduation from Claflin as a mass communications major. Terry is from Orangeburg, S.C., and he previously interned at The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C., and The Times and Democrat in Orangeburg. He’s done work with sports and news.

Sean McInnis, Western Kentucky University

A photojournalism major at WKU, Sean is involved in coverage of news both on campus and in the Bowling Green community. He is the staff photographer for the Talisman and College Heights Herald on campus.

Denise Casalez, App State

Denise is an editor for The Peel, the student literary magazine at Appalachian State University. She will graduate in May 2024. Denise previously worked with Hola Cultura as an editorial intern in Washington, D.C. She also writes arts and culture stories for The Appalachian student newspaper.

Audrey Elsberry, University of South Carolina

Audrey was selected to participate in the Dow Jones News Fund internship program and will join the Observer following graduation in May. Audrey has covered arts, business and development for the Carolina News and Reporter student newspaper at USC. She also was the former opinion editor and outreach director for the Daily Gamecock student newspaper.

Anna Rebello, Duke University

Anna joins the Observer this summer as a rising junior and public policy major. At Duke, she studies both French and journalism. A Charlotte native, Anna has experience in both broadcast journalism and feature writing and she works as a section editor for both the Duke Chronicle student newspaper and FORM student magazine.