Grady InternViews: Libby Hobbs

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience.  

Libby Hobbs graduated with a journalism degree in May 2025 and is in New York City for a multiplatform editing internship with The New York Times through the Dow Jones News Fund. Read more about her internship experience below. 

Provide a brief overview of your role and its associated responsibilities.

I am a Dow Jones News Fund multiplatform editing intern for The New York Times assigned to the print news hub desk. I help adapt digital stories for publication in the daily paper by writing display type — including headlines, photo captions and pull quotes — and editing to the style, standards, tone and taste of The New York Times. I work on page one, as well as the international, national, business, sports and obituary sections of the paper. 

What opportunities do you have in your internship?

Throughout orientation week at The Times, the interns joined the fellows to hear from leaders and innovators who have evolved the newsroom. Additionally, I attend training sessions throughout the summer that aim to teach and strengthen skills. Prior to moving to New York City, I was in Austin, Texas, for the Dow Jones News Fund multiplatform editing training. There, I visited The Texas Tribune newsroom and completed assignments to prepare for my internship.

What is one piece of work you are proud of creating in this role? 

Since I only started working on June 5, I’m sure the best is yet to come. However, I recently edited a story about the K-pop boy band, BTS, which was a fun experience for me. I used to listen to their music in high school, so it felt like a full circle moment. Being on the print hub, our work doesn’t necessarily have a byline attached to it. At the end of the day, I’m proud to be one of the last sets of eyes on such a flagship product for The Times. 

How has the Grady curriculum prepared you for this internship?

The Oglethorpe Echo capstone class requires you to write for a weekly print edition, as well as adapt those stories digitally on social media and the website. Even though I’m doing almost the opposite — taking the digital report and editing it for the paper — I still think this is one of the classes that prepares you for what it takes to work in a functioning newsroom. Notably, my term as editor in chief at The Red & Black is what prepared me the most for this internship.

Did you receive any mentorship or guidance? How did it impact your experience? 

Absolutely. My professors — Lori Johnston, Amanda Bright, Keith Herndon, Mark Johnson — are just a few that come to mind. Charlotte Varnum and Kayla Renie at The Red & Black also had a profound impact on my college career. Not to mention, my colleagues and classmates also inspired me. The encouragement, feedback and nudge from all of these people is the reason I’m doing what I am today. Our shared ideas and conversations have permanently shaped me.

What challenges have you overcome in this role? 

The Times is an intense place to be. On my first day, I was already assigned to send pages off to our print distribution center, as well as edit a story for the later edition of the paper. I made mistakes, and the imposter syndrome was very real — I felt like I wasn’t good enough to be here. However, confidence takes time and persistence. It’s gotten easier with each day I show up, and my co-workers who have helped mentor me are very patient and kind. 

What is the most valuable piece of advice you gained from your experience? 

Put in the hours to bring empathy and excellence into the work you are doing wherever your feet are planted. In all aspects of journalism, you must deeply care about the impact you have on people and strive for the highest quality storytelling. Our industry is changing, and we need to hunger for more and for better. On another note, I recommend you do a social media check in — ask yourself if these are things you need to be posting and sharing right now. Employers notice.

How has this internship influenced your future career? 

The way I see details and also journalism as a whole is already changing. I am careful with my headlines and what might be read as biased. I am attentive to how a pull quote and a photo caption should each bring a piece of the overall package. I notice the similarities and differences of working in a local, nonprofit space compared to The Times. All of these things shape who I am and who I aspire to be as an editor and reporter in the future. 

Editor: Lily Alarcon, lia52467@uga.edu