Journalism Student Explores Storytelling in London
For University of Arizona senior Joey Bernal Alonzo, studying abroad in London is another chance to immerse herself in a new culture and learn from the people around her.
Bernal Alonzo, a journalism and communication major, is spending the fall semester at St. Mary’s University through the UA London study abroad program. She is taking courses in communication, creative writing and theater while also applying her multimedia skills as a student social media ambassador for UA Study Abroad.
“Every time I move somewhere new, I feel like I learn more,” she said. “The main reason I wanted to travel abroad was to experience that again.”
Bernal Alonzo grew up in Mexico before moving to the U.S. in 2020. She graduated from Chatfield Senior High School in Colorado before coming to the University of Arizona through the Bayne Access to Education Scholarship.
Since arriving at the U of A, Bernal Alonzo has found several ways to combine her interests in storytelling and exploring cultures. She has spent the past three years working for UATV-3, the university’s student-run broadcast station, where she served as news director last year. She has also worked as a bilingual reporting intern for Tucson Spotlight and as a resident assistant on campus.
Her reporting has often focused on covering Hispanic culture, arts and community events in Southern Arizona.
“I like to believe that by telling those stories, I can spread awareness of events and clubs for other people who may feel homesick or feel like they don’t belong,” she said. “It lets them find their home away from home.”
University of Arizona senior Joey Bernal Alonzo visited Setúbal, Portugal, this fall before the start of the UA London semester.
Bernal Alonzo’s interest in storytelling extends beyond journalism. She has a background in theater and said performing helped her become comfortable in front of a camera.
“After a year of not doing theater, I realized I missed being on a stage,” she said. “I came to the conclusion that theater is just storytelling and what else is storytelling? Journalism.”
She has since combined the two interests through stories about entertainment and artists. In London, a theater elective will give her the opportunity to attend plays and musicals at historic venues while also continuing to develop her writing through a creative writing course.
“I like spreading awareness of the arts and sharing something bright that might make someone happy for the day,” she said.
Before classes began, Bernal Alonzo traveled through England, France, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, Spain and Greece with her grandparents from Mexico. The trip gave her a chance to experience several new cultures before settling into life as a student in London.
As she prepares to graduate next spring, Bernal Alonzo is considering graduate school or beginning a career in journalism or communications.
“I definitely know that I want to work somewhere where there is a lot of diversity and a lot of art,” she said.