National recognition for a rising writer
CMU alumna Emma Siemens ('23) will begin a Master of Journalism at Carleton University this fall after receiving the Wendy Elaine Nelles Award from the Word Guild.
A national writing award is helping CMU alumna Emma Siemens take the next step toward a career in journalism.
The 2023 communications and media graduate is the recent recipient of the Wendy Elaine Nelles Award from th Word Guild, an organization of Canadian Christian writers and editors. The award recognizes emerging writers studying journalism, literature, media, and communications in Canada and includes an $850 prize to support their professional development.
For Siemens, the award will help fund her studies at Carlton Univeristy this fall, where she will pursue a Master of Journalism.
"I have not yet regretted saying yes to something because you actually have no idea what's on the other side of that."
That openness to new opportunities has shaped her writing journey so far.
The two-year program blends classroom curriculum with practical work experience in the newsroom setting, culminating in a capstone research project. Siemens says she's both nervous and excited by the opportunities to learn and work in such prestigious outlets such as CBC and CTV.
Siemens' writing impulses have been with her for as long as she can remember, and she says attending CMU gave her plenty of opportunities to pursue that side of her creativity.
"The biggest thing that CMU gave me was a sense of empowerment or confidence with my writing," she says. "I felt seen but then also empowered to grow my capacity with writing specifically, which is exactly what I would have wanted for my writing journey."
Although mostly comfortable with academic writing, Siemens'work-integrated learning placement through the Ens Centre for Career and Vocation at CMU, was with Canadian Mennonite, a monthly magazine that publishes news and content relevant to the national Mennonite community.
"I found writing in a journalistic style for the first time very difficult. It doesn't come naturally to me. I like to write more elaborately... so that's like the opposite of journalistic writing," she says.
What stayed with her was discovering the power of journalism to share a story.
"Academic writing is niche... but journalistic writing is ideally pretty inclusive. So, I liked that concept of it."
Beyond journalism and media courses, Siemens describes her time at CMU as "mentally refining."
The smaller classes, and interdisciplinary approach, encouraged her to engage with material on a "deeper level," opening her mind to new perspectives, helping her grow both intellectually and personally. She "matured quickly on an intellectual level" during her undergrad, majoring in communications and media.
The support from faculty who hired her as a writing fellow during her undergrad, or who mentored and helped improve her writing, is something she still carries with her now. When applying for the Wendy Elaine Nelles Award, she cited David Balzer, Associate Professor of Communications and Media, as a reference. Balzer was also the person who encouraged her to apply for the award once he heard she was pursuing a graduate degree.
As Siemens grows in her career, she wants to give the same advice to aspiring writers that she follows herself.
"Just say yes to like every opportunity that's presented to you, even if that doesn't seem very fun... whatever it may be, say yes."
"[Get] as much experience as possible, you'll never regret that, and that experience can come in really unexpected ways."