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Continuing a tradition of journalism 

Jess Mortwedt

Knowing one's strengths goes a long way in determining which major to pursue a college degree in.  When math and science are not among them the door to the Hibbard Humanities Hall on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus tends to open up.

Jess Mortwedt is among the students at UWEC who found themselves pursuing a degree in print journalism.  Mortwedt, 21, a 1998 graduate of Altoona, Wis, High School, is now a senior who will graduate this May with a degree in print journalism.

Mortwedt comes from a family that has ties to the world of journalism, her father, Jim, worked at a Madison television station as an agricultural reporter, and also spent time at an Iowa radio station.  Her grandfather managed a radio station in Menominee.

"My Dad encouraged me to pursue writing, not necessarily journalism," Mortwedt said. "At first I thought no way, but I found that I like writing," Mortwedt added.

Since a humble beginning at UWEC's student-run TV 10, Mortwedt has worked part-time at the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram writing mainly city briefs and at the Spectator, UWEC's student newspaper and is currently the Chief Copy Editor.  This past year she had an internship with the Leader-Telegram, working as a full time reporter.

"The Leader-Telegram internship allowed me to write an article everyday and got me acquainted with the way a city works," Mortwedt said.

The internship also provided Mortwedt the unfortunate opportunity to practice news gathering in a tragic setting. One article she wrote included interviewing the father of a young boy who was found frozen in the snow this past winter near Eleva, Wis.

"It was an extremely nerve-racking experience attempting to get the facts for the story and yet be compassionate toward the father," Mortwedt said.

When Mortwedt gets a chance to remove herself from the newsroom she can be found on the St. Croix River, boating, water skiing and in general enjoying summer weather, which she says is her favorite time of the year.  Being a fan of the outdoors she also enjoys rollerblading and skiing.

"I wouldn't mind journalism as a profession, it all depends on how things work out," said Mortwedt when asked in she'd be in journalism 10 years from now.  "Though if things don't work out I'd like to look into becoming an English professor at the college level."