IndyStar’s newsroom internships are an important tradition that benefits readers, the news industry and aspiring journalists. We have nine summer interns for 2025 — students who have shown a passion for local journalism and have prior internship or student media experience. The program provides a bridge from student journalism to the professional ranks and helps the Star fill the gaps as our full-time staff take well-earned vacation time.
Similarly, we’re taking a break from our “Meet the Staff” feature for the summer to give you a chance to, yes, meet the interns. We also call them Pulliam fellows — in recognition of the family that used to own the newspaper and has continued to support journalism in Indianapolis — and past participants have gone on to rich careers at the Star and elsewhere in journalism.
Up this week is 2025 IndyStar intern Marissa Meador.
What’s your beat?
My beat is investigations, with a focus on politics.
What college are you attending/did you attend?
I just graduated from IU Bloomington with degrees in political science and journalism in May.
What’s your favorite part of being a journalist?
My favorite part of being a journalist is the variety and unpredictability of each day. I love how the stories I write can teach me more about hidden corners of the world, from the nitty-gritty of the debate over forest management practices to the quirks of a person I’m profiling.
What prompted you to apply to IndyStar?
I applied to IndyStar because I admire the great work its reporters and editors do, from hard-hitting investigations to critical community news. I grew up getting the newspaper delivered to my house in Mooresville, just south of Indianapolis, so IndyStar holds a special place in my heart.
Who’s sponsoring your internship?
My internship is sponsored by the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting.
What are you reading or streaming?
I’m still working through season 2 of “The Last of Us,” so no spoilers please!
What song do you shamelessly jam out to in the car?
I’ll never get tired of “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right” by Bob Dylan (but preferably the duet version with Joan Baez).
Do you prefer dogs or cats?
This is an impossible question because I love them both! But I grew up around dogs and currently have a beagle named Pixie, so I may have to go with dogs.
What’s your bucket-list vacation destination?
I’d love to see the beautiful sights of Utah’s national parks one day.
Who would you travel back in time to meet?
If I could travel back in time, I would meet Joan Didion. She’s my favorite author and I’d love to pick her brain about how she developed her writing style.
What’s the biggest misconception you encounter in talking to people about journalism?
When I tell people I’m a journalist, they sometimes say they hope I’m a “good” journalist. The field has lost a lot of trust, and there’s more work to be done, but I haven’t met a “bad” journalist to this day. The field is all about working for the people and delivering news in a clear, accurate and honest way. Journalists are committed to securing these principles.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Meet IndyStar investigative and politics intern Marissa Meador
Reporting by Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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