CASPER, WY — This month Oil City News welcomed its first fall interns from Casper College, adding two eager students to its newsroom staff.
Ashlyn Cooper, a Casper native majoring in English and psychology, and Caleb Hill, an anthropology and English major originally from Salt Lake City, will work at the paper through mid‑November.
Intern backgrounds and motivations
Hill, who has lived in Casper for four years, says his fascination with ancient cultures and archaeology sparked his interest in writing. “I’m fascinated by ancient things and the ancient world. I just think the older something is, the more interesting it gets,” he explained. He hopes the internship could lead to a career in writing or at least provide a paycheck while he explores his passions.
Cooper discovered journalism in a college class and was connected to Oil City News by an English instructor. She describes her drive as a desire to keep the humanities alive and to serve the community. “I’ve always enjoyed researching and learning about people, and this internship lets me share that with others,” she said.
Learning the newsroom trade
Both interns will cover beats as if they were full‑time reporters and will shadow veteran staff members. Managing editor Klark Byrd said the goal is for the interns to understand how local community journalism works and to appreciate the effort the team puts into informing residents.
Hill has already been writing on a variety of topics, describing the internship as a “smattering of everything” that lets him blend his interests in storytelling, archaeology, and sci‑fi reading. Cooper enjoys the fast‑paced environment and says she especially likes reporting on community events, noting a recent data‑center forum where she gathered diverse perspectives to present a balanced story.
Future plans
Hill is considering further education at the University of Wyoming, while Cooper envisions a path that could include continued journalism, teaching English, traveling abroad, and even studying astrophysics. Both interns see the experience as a stepping stone toward broader career possibilities.
Oil City News hopes the partnership with Casper College will continue to nurture local talent and strengthen the town’s news ecosystem.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
