Graduate Student Highlight: Professional M.A. Class of December 2025

From left to right: SJMC Graduate Program Manager Lindsey Bliefernicht, Paula Yu, Rene Merk, Esther Launstein, SJMC Teaching Faculty Stacy Forster

On Friday, December 12, three of School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) Professional M.A. students presented their final portfolios and completed their degrees. While at the SJMC, Esther Launstein, Rene Merk and Paula Yu developed their journalistic skills by diving deep into a chosen specialty, such as nutrition, social justice and documentary storytelling. Check out some highlights from our graduates’ portfolios and their plans for the future.

Esther Launstein

Esther Launstein graduated from the University of Michigan in 2023 with a BA in English and Creative Writing. Prior to coming to the SJMC, Launstein worked as an production intern for News 3 Now/Channel 3000 and did general assignment reporting for Isthmus. She has also done a lot of freelance work, mostly for the Cap Times.

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Launstein knew she wanted to further explore journalism. The SJMC Professional M.A. program allowed her to learn more about journalism while focusing on her interests and pursuing a flexible specialization.

Area of focus: Social justice and solutions journalism, specifically related to health and politics

Portfolio highlights:

Sterilization rate at Madison hospital doubled after abortion ruling, study finds

“This story unpacks a study from UW-Madison showing that the rate of people seeking surgical sterilization went after the Supreme Court overturned abortion protections in Roe v. Wade in 2022. It appeared in the print edition of the Cap Times in February 2025 and remains up on the digital site,” Launstein said. “This was the first story I got published in Madison, so I learned a lot about freelancing, building a relationship with an editor and accepting criticism while also learning where to push back on things that were important. This story challenged me to be a human first, and a journalist second, as the subject matter was very sensitive.”

Advocates urge ban on subminimum wages for people with disabilities

“This solutions-focused story explores the practice of paying people with disabilities less than minimum wage in Wisconsin, specifically detailing efforts to move away from these certifications as other states have done. It was published by the Cap Times in May 2025, both as the cover story and as a digital story,” Launstein said. “From this, I learned to be a persistent reporter, as well as a compassionate one. I was reporting on a heavy topic, related to equity and justice, and that took a lot of care, especially during interviews. I also got a feel for longer-term stories, since this one took an entire semester. I learned that I enjoy digging deep and going into as much detail as possible.”

Dane County doulas join effort to cut rise in pregnancy complications

“This issue story has a solutions aspect, exploring how doulas in Dane County help to mitigate a rising maternal morbidity rate. It also ties in health-related information about what contributes to these complications and how doulas specifically address them. It was published by the Cap Times in November 2025,” Launstein said. “This was a story with a lot of different elements and information to consider, and it challenged me to think about a way to tell the full picture but provide enough depth for each piece of information.”

Future plans: After graduation, Launstein plans to find a reporting job.

Rene Merk

Before applying to the SJMC Professional M.A. program, Rene Merk graduated from UW–Stevens Point in 2023 with a BA in Media Studies. She knew she wanted to continue learning after graduating with her bachelor’s degree. While working as an intern at UW Extension, Merk’s supervisor spoke highly of UW–Madison graduate programs and encouraged her to apply to the SJMC to further her education.

Area of focus: Digital media

Portfolio highlights:

The heart behind Apex Nutrition

A published feature in Madison Commons profiling Apex Nutrition in Middleton, Wisconsin. The story highlights the owners’ vision of building a community focused nutrition bar while fostering connections.

“From writing this story I learned a lot about how to write about a business in a way that highlights their mission and values,” Merk said. “It allowed me to go beyond the outward perception of the business and dig deeper into the owner’s mission.”

Future plans: After graduation, Merk plans to look for a job specializing in digital media.

Paula Yu

Paula Yu earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Southern California, where she first developed her passion for visual storytelling through multimedia pojects and Instagram video production for USC. Before coming to the SJMC, Yu worked in China as a scenarist-director producing social-issue documentaries, and later served as the Secretary of the Board at her family’s company, where she supported strategic communication, project coordination and corporate governance. While at the SJMC, Yu served as a photographer for the UW–Madison College of Letters & Science, capturing campus life and creating digital content for editorial and social platforms.

Yu came to the SJMC because she wanted to strengthen her skills in journalism, multimedia production and strategic storytelling. She hoped to learn how to tell stories that inspire empathy, bridge cultures and help people understand each other, especially in today’s global media environment. The SJMC’s Professional M.A. program offered exactly what she was looking for: hands-on training, supportive faculty, and the opportunity to build a strong portfolio across video, photography, writing and data visualization.

Area of focus: Multimedia storytelling and visual journalism with a strong emphasis on video production, documentary storytelling and photography

Portfolio highlights:

“More Than a Song” – short documentary

A documentary following the worship team at Blackhawk Church, exploring how music builds community and emotional connection. “This project taught me how to translate cultural experiences across audiences and how to create intimate, people-centered visual narratives,” Yu said.

Campus photojournalism – L&S Magazine

“As the photographer for the College of Letters & Science, I covered major student life events, campus stories, and editorial portraits,” Yu said. “I learned to think like both a creator and an editor – anticipating moments, shaping visual style and producing content that serves community storytelling.”

“Monkey noises’ harassment case shakes UW’s communities of color” — The Capital Times

“This reported story examined a racial harassment incident on campus and its impact on students of color,” Yu said. “Writing this piece taught me how to handle sensitive topics with accuracy, empathy and cultural awareness. It also reinforced the importance of giving voice to marginalized communities and reporting with accountability.”

Climate Communication Storytelling (Boston Summit)

“Through reporting and multimedia work inspired by the Communicating Climate conference at Boston University, I explored how journalists can translate complex scientific issues into narratives that move people to action,” Yu said. “This experience deepened my understanding of public-interest storytelling.”

Future plans: After graduation, Yu plans to return to China to join and eventually lead her family’s company. She hopes to bring the skills she developed at the SJMC – strategic communication, multimedia production, storytelling and project leadership – into the organization as they expand and modernize their communication strategy.

In the long term, Yu aims to build a bridge between media, business, and public storytelling, using what she has learned to strengthen her company’s voice and create meaningful narratives within her community.