By Yuqing (Yvonne) Liu JMS’24 and Andy Tonato JMS’25

In March 2024, during Rutgers' spring break,15 SC&I Journalism and Media Studies students embarked on a study abroad trip to Spain, visiting the historic cities of Barcelona and San Sebastian. 

The JMS Study Abroad trip offered through the JMS Global Media Specialization, combined classroom study and fieldwork. Led by SC&I Associate Professor of Professional Practice Mary D’Ambrosio and Professor Regina Marchi, the Writing the Mediterranean trip enabled the students to acquire hands-on experience working as travel writers.

The trip was carefully designed to offer the students an immersive experience in Spanish culture and it included visits to La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell in Barcelona and the Camino de Santiago in San Sebastián. Many of the students thoroughly enjoyed and benefitted from these new experiences.

Nick Wrate JMS’24, initially wanted to write about the legacy of civil war in Catalonia, but he became fascinated by the glorious masterpieces created by the architect Antoni Gaudi, and switched his focus of the project.

“I wanted a program that intertwines with my major where I'd be able to apply my writing skills and reporting skills in a different country. It was really the little stops along the way that made the journey worthwhile,” said Katherine Costa, JMS’25. Costa’s project was focused on religion in Spain and its impact on the youth. She also filmed and produced a short video illustrating the cinematic vibe of Barcelona.

Immersing themselves in the diverse and vibrant Spainish culture and city vibe, all of the students applied their unique takeaways from the trip to their class projects. From religion, to fashion, to night life, to art and architecture, and to food in Spain, the pieces of travel writing the students produced were incredibly creative.

“I chose to cover a story on fashion in Spain and the current trends especially among the youthful population, and through actually seeing first-hand the fashion and the way people native to the area dress in person, I was able to gather more information than I could’ve imagined,” said Sophia Slade JMS’24. “Conducting interviews and meeting people in this destination was such a unique and powerful experience, so much better than a phone or zoom interview or even a standard one that I normally would partake in in the states!”

Nick Wrate JMS’24, initially wanted to write about the legacy of civil war in Catalonia, but he became fascinated by the glorious masterpieces created by the architect Antoni Gaudi, and switched his focus of the project. “There was so much thought and care put into those projects and I wanted to share that through my article. I was not previously interested in architecture, but I was so blown away by these incredible buildings and sculptures that I wanted to know more about them,” said Wrate.

“My focus during the trip was to discover and report about Barcelona’s well-known nightlife. I wanted to understand the ‘going out’ culture as well as how the city, and its people, behaved at night,” said Marina Benitez JMS’24, “I came to understand that Spaniards have a very different work/life balance than we are used to in the U.S. They prioritize socialization and fun, on the same level they do with work. I believe this is why Barcelona’s night life was so eclectic and vibrant. It was a unique experience.”

“While I was in Spain, the main focus of my article was breaking down Gen Z shopping trends through examining vintage stores, second-hand thrifts, and antique markets,” said Brianna Phillips JMS’24, “Young adults in Barcelona have incredibly similar habits to those in the U.S., as well as that sustainability and uniqueness plays a major role in how young adults decide what to buy.”

“My focus during the trip was to discover and report about Barcelona’s well-known nightlife. I wanted to understand the ‘going out’ culture as well as how the city, and its people, behaved at night,” said Marina Benitez JMS’24,

Yuqing (Yvonne) Liu JMS’24, who was the SC&I News Writing Intern during the fall 2023 semester and a JMS student on this trip, said her project was about the vintage fashion market in Barcelona and how tourists interact with the unique vibe and style of the city. “I’m always interested in fashion and the fascinating stories behind clothing design,” Liu said. “Barcelona is THE place for exploring vintage fashion since it now has a growing market of second-hand clothing, and being an international city with many designer boutiques, it features diverse styles and fashion tastes. Actually, just being in Barcelona changed my whole perspective and stimulated my creativity.” Liu created a video about her project.

For students who is not Journalism and Media Studies major, this program gives them a taste of journalistic storytelling and creative experience. Bringing their refreshing perspective from a different educational background, they engaged in this trip with a unique practice that would become opportunities in the future.

Helen Hopersky SAS‘24, majoring Chinese and Russian Language and Literature and minoring in Music and Education as a Social Science, decided to participate in this program because of her interest in traveling and writing journey blogs in the future.

“While exploring, I got to speak with many Catalans, who I found to be fiercely proud of their language and culture,” said Hopersky, “It was inspiring to speak with people who loved and valued their heritage so much! They made me want to understand and love my own heritage better. I would say the study abroad experience taught me how to be confident when speaking with strangers.”

Although it was a short trip, it was a success, and many memories were made. Our Spain-bound travelers had a tremendous experience in the lively Spanish cities they visited, practicing their professional skills and making lasting connections with each other.

“​​I was pleasantly surprised with all of the connections that I made with every single one of our classmates. And hopefully, we've made some memories that will last a lifetime some friendships that will last beyond the classroom,” said Natalie Civadelic JMS’26.

A JMS Study Abroad trip will be offered again next spring, but in 2025 the students will travel to Turkey.

Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.

Watch the video version of this piece produced by Andy Tonato JMS’25. Tonato’s production was awarded the 2024 SCIMMY Award for Global Journalism at the annual SC&I JMS Showcase, and Tonato was recently inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, the prestigious national honor society in Journalism and Mass Communication at Rutgers.