51吃瓜

Get to know some of our College 51吃瓜 students! Brendan Gallian is a Class of 2027 journalism major. 

Why did you choose journalism at Illinois? 
After visiting other schools and learning more about the College 51吃瓜, I realized Illinois offered opportunities and experiences I wouldn鈥檛 find elsewhere, and I became more excited about what Illinois had to offer. I鈥檓 grateful I decided to attend, as it opened doors I didn鈥檛 expect when I first started my college search. 

What drew you to journalism as a major? 
I鈥檝e always loved sports. I played baseball growing up, collected sports cards, and I鈥檓 a huge White Sox fan. Journalism has given me a way to stay connected to the world of sports. Sports reporting allows me to combine my love of writing with the energy and excitement of the games. Once I got into feature writing, it became even more meaningful. Instead of focusing on scores and stats, I realized how much I enjoyed telling human stories, capturing the moments and people that don鈥檛 always get the spotlight. 

How have your experiences outside the classroom shaped your journalism skills? 
Joining The Daily Illini has been one of the most essential parts of my experience at Illinois. I started as a sportswriter in Fall of 2023, covering cross country, track and field, and later, hockey. Writing two weekly stories and covering previews and recaps pushed me out of my comfort zone. I learned how to move beyond box scores and find the bigger story, like when I wrote about a soccer player scoring his first goal in front of his family. Telling stories like that showed me how much I enjoy feature writing and finding the human side of sports.  Now, as the sports editor, I manage the entire sports section. I assign beats, edit articles, run weekly meetings, and make sure we maintain high-quality reporting. It鈥檚 a leadership role that taught me to be organized, work with different writers, and step up when needed.

Outside of The Daily Illini, I interned at Illinois Public Media (WILL), where I produced audio features, including a story about farmers installing wetlands to support local biodiversity. These hands-on experiences gave me a real-world understanding of journalism, helping me to become well-versed in conducting interviews and creating stories that matter.聽

What is one of your favorite stories you鈥檝e written? 
One of my favorite stories was about a hockey player who scored his first goal in front of his family. Rather than writing a standard recap, I focused on the personal significance of the moment for the player. That experience reinforced how much I enjoy human-interest storytelling. I also appreciated covering smaller community events, like a local model train show. These stories allow me to highlight moments that may otherwise go unnoticed. They reminded me that journalism is not solely about significant headlines but about capturing meaningful human experiences. 

What are your career goals after graduation? 
My long-term goal is to cover the Chicago White Sox for a professional publication. Although fewer journalists currently cover the team full-time, I want to help fill that gap and tell important stories about the organization. I plan to continue writing human-interest features and sports stories, focusing on the people behind the headlines. Whether I work for a traditional media outlet, a niche publication, or even a museum or historical organization, I want to keep telling meaningful stories. 

What advice would you give to incoming journalism students? 
Believe in yourself and stay committed, even when it gets difficult. Journalism is competitive, and self-doubt is normal, but persistence is key. Try everything, join student media groups, pursue internships, and take different classes because you won鈥檛 know what you genuinely enjoy until you explore. Building relationships with professors and peers is also crucial, and the College 51吃瓜 has many people dedicated to helping students succeed. Most importantly, remember that journalism is about passion. If you love storytelling, that will carry you through the challenges.  

鈥擨nterview by Rein Phone, New Voices Intern