UO, OSU students to join Salem Reporter team as reporting interns

Two college students will join Salem Reporter as interns this summer through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism.

Mirandah Davis-Powell, a native of Ashland, anticipates graduating in June 2026 from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Hailey Cook, a native of Anchorage, will graduate in June from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing. She minored in journalism.

The Snowden program, managed by UO’s School of Journalism and Communication, selects students for the program and provides a stipend. It recently announced the 22 interns being placed in newsrooms across Oregon.

“We are delighted to have such terrific talent joining our news team this summer,” said Editor Les Zaitz. “They will bring fresh ideas and perspectives while helping us deepen our coverage of Salem. The community is fortunate to have these two young journalists coming in.”

Three journalists on Salem Reporter’s team were themselves Snowden interns – Ardeshir Tabrizian at the Malheur Enterprise, Abbey McDonald at the Roseburg News-Review and Madeleine Moore, last year at Salem Reporter.

During their time in Salem, Cook and Davis-Powell will get advanced training in all aspects of journalism while performing their reporting duties.

“What drives my passion for journalism is the people—connecting with them, hearing their stories and translating their perspectives to a wider audience,” said Cook.

At OSU, she contributed to the Orange Media Network, which includes a newspaper, radio and television station and three magazines.

“The stories that excite me the most are people-centered—such as my coverage of local labor strikes, protests and cultural events,” she said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to gain mentorship from seasoned journalists who have their boots on the ground in this ever-changing, dynamic field.”

At the UO, Davis-Powell has been a writer and podcast editor for the Oregon Daily Emerald, the independent student-run newspaper. She also has been a writer and audio producer for the communications team at the university’s Clark Honors College.

“I’m very excited to have a chance to report for a local publication in Oregon. As someone raised in Southern Oregon, losing the Mail Tribune meant seeing the disappearance of a paper I had grown up picking up from my curbside,” she said.

That experience “fueled my desire to learn new tools for growth within journalism, and I hope to do that with the Salem Reporter this summer. I’m looking forward to learning more about the city and contributing to storytelling with impact during my internship.”

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS EFFORT

At Salem Reporter, we believe in the power of journalism to inform, engage, and strengthen our community. That’s why we are committed to training the next generation of reporters to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accuracy, and fairness in news reporting.

Your donation towards our goal of $5,000 can make this program a success. By supporting our summer interns, you’re not just investing in young reporters—you’re helping to ensure that the Salem community continues to benefit from strong, independent journalism.

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