By Nyah Wright-Walker | BG Falcon Media intern
Mary Beth Eastman graduated from BGSU in 2001 with her sights set on a career in publishing.
“I knew since I was 15 that I wanted to work in publishing,” she said.
While at BGSU, she joined the BG News, gaining hands-on experience in many different areas.
“I did pretty much everything there was to do besides sport. I did reporting, editing, page layout, even cartooning,” she said. “I think I learned more producing the newspaper than I even did in my classes.”
After graduation, Mary Beth completed an internship with the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia, working in copy editing. This led to positions at community newspapers in Ohio and Maryland, where she expanded her skills in editing, page design, and managing special projects. Eventually, she became a Design Editor, blending words and visuals for a new and creative newspaper initiative.
When her department was laid off, Mary Beth pivoted to content marketing, focusing on personal finance topics like mortgages, loans, and credit cards, while also taking on additional freelance work. Today, Mary Beth works 100% freelance, helping businesses publish information their audiences need while also contributing to journalistic clients like the U.S. News & World Report. After years in traditional newsroom roles, she feels confident that transitioning to full-time freelance was the right choice, as it still aligns with her interests. “It still suits me. It’s still journalism because everything has to be factual, cited, and backed up by research,” she explained.
Mary Beth credits BGSU and the BG News with giving her the foundation to succeed and pays that back as a board member for the BG News Alumni Society. Reflecting on her journey, she offered some advice for those at BG.
“Don’t think you need to start at a big-name publication. You can do your best, most meaningful work wherever you are,” she said Networking has also been key as she stays active in associations like the American Society of Journalists and Authors, continuing to learn from her peers and share her own ideas.