Balancing Journalism and Athletics: UA Little Rock Student Excels in Publishing Internship

By Sydney Ambrus

Emilia Martinez, a graduate student in UA Little Rock’s Mass Communication program and graduate assistant for the Women’s Swimming and Diving team, is gaining real-world experience this year through an internship with Little Rock Soirée. Over the summer and into the fall, she has sharpened her writing, research, and communication skills while building confidence in her professional work.

Martinez, originally from Mexico, first discovered Little Rock Soirée when she moved to the city. Her aunt encouraged her to follow the magazine on Instagram to learn about local restaurants, events, and activities. When she later saw a post from Arkansas Business Publishing Group (ABPG) seeking interns for summer 2025, she applied.

“I applied for the Consumer Special Publications Writer position, knowing the role would allow me to contribute to different ABPG publications and serve primarily as a writer,  exactly the experience I was looking for,” Martinez said.

During her time with ABPG, Martinez worked across three departments: Consumer Special Publications, Business Special Publications, and the Soirée team. She wrote feature and profile stories for North Texas Magazine, Arkansas Next, and Arkansas Pros.

As a bilingual writer, she also translated the entire North Texas Magazine into Spanish. In addition, she contributed to projects such as Arkansas 250 and Whole Health Magazine, and assisted the Soirée social media team at events and photo shoots, helping create content to showcase restaurants and activities around Little Rock.

She credits UA Little Rock’s Mass Communications program for preparing her to succeed in this role. 

“My professors, especially Dr. (Tim) Edwards, have pushed me to think critically and aim higher in my career,” she said. “At ABPG, I was able to put those lessons into practice and see how they play out in the real world.”

When asked about her favorite project, Martinez said it was hard to choose just one.

“Each project came with its own challenges and rewards, and every team I worked with made me feel like I was truly part of something meaningful. What stood out most was the trust and responsibility I was given across different departments,” she said. “I also want to highlight how empowered I felt working alongside so many incredible women at ABPG. Their professionalism, creativity, and leadership inspired me to grow as a writer and as a person.”

Martinez will continue at ABPG through the fall semester while she completes her graduate program. She is also building her professional project with ABPG, which will serve as the capstone for her final year before graduating next May. At the same time, she remains dedicated to her role as a graduate assistant with the Women’s Swimming and Diving team.

“Coaching such a talented group of student-athletes inspires me every day, and I feel fortunate to be able to balance both journalism and athletics in this chapter of my life,” she said.

Reflecting on her experience, Martinez said the internship helped clarify her career goals. 

“The internship showed me how much I can do with my degree and gave me confidence that no dream is too small,” she said. “I want to create meaningful experiences for audiences through storytelling, and this opportunity helped me see just how many ways that’s possible. I also learned that Arkansas has incredible opportunities for young professionals. You just have to be willing to seek them out and put in the effort.”