Originally posted to UA News, written by C&IS student Hailey Adams
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Graduate student Miykael Stith is going the extra mile to make a name in the media business.
The journalism and creative media master’s student from Byron, Georgia, dove deeper into the media world this summer, interning at the popular syndicated celebrity and entertainment TV show “Extra” in Los Angeles this summer.
His passion for journalism and creative media started at an early age. Since the second grade, he knew his goal in life was to make an impact on the world. This goal stemmed from a simple assignment a teacher gave him: writing and reading stories to his class. One of his stories made the class laugh, and in that moment, he realized that “what you write and say can evoke emotion,” he said. He never forgot that moment nor lost his passion for making discoveries, writing and creating.
Stith began his higher education at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. He connected with individuals and mentors who pushed and inspired him to be his best.
As he finished his undergraduate studies, Stith felt uncertain about his future. One day, he heard a speaker discussing the vast potential of careers in media studies.
“The speaker said that there is no set formula for the media field, which means you can create your own,” he said.
This message inspired Stith to research and eventually decide to continue his education. After looking at various schools and emailing professors, he knew no better place to continue his education than UA. The decision proved to be the best, he said.
“There has been so much growth in myself since joining The University of Alabama, like expanding my network, helping create my path in media, and fine-tuning previous skills I learned as an undergraduate.” As a UA Online student, Stith is halfway through his studies. Classes such as data journalism and feature writing have been instrumental in refining his skills. His data journalism class taught him organization and precision, while his feature writing class reignited his passion for storytelling and pushed him to dig deeper into his narratives.
These classes and his remote internship with iOne Digital helped him prepare for future challenges and internships. Boosted by these experiences, his confidence and creativity helped Stith apply for and secure the prestigious Television Academy Foundation Internship. As one of only 40 students selected nationwide, Stith was matched with “Extra.”
During his internship, Stith has enjoyed rotating through various roles, such as writing, producing, editing and more. This allowed him to gain hands-on experience in different areas and meet some celebrities. So far, some of his favorite experiences have been working in post-production, doing voiceovers, and learning more about the show’s editing system. Seeing the behind-the-scenes efforts to make a show seamless for airing has been fascinating. He has enjoyed applying the knowledge he’s gained from his UA classes to all these internship areas.
Stith advises others aspiring to secure a similar internship to “post your content consistently, find your audience, and build your platform while remaining humble.” He emphasizes the importance of connections, learning from every opportunity, and not taking any for granted.
“I have my goals, and I want to make sure throughout them I stay dedicated to creating meaningful content and uplifting voices for everyone, no matter their backgrounds.” Stith’s story is a testament to the power of passion, persistence and the impact of supportive communities. Stith is never afraid to go the extra mile and use his talents to better the world.