Hello! I am August Barham, a Digital Producer in the Autos Features section at U.S. News and World Report. I have a B.A. in journalism and cinema studies from American University. That's me in a nutshell, but for a broader picture of who I am, we have to take it way back.

 

After years of “wasting time” writing stories in math notebooks, I started taking my hobby seriously in high school. I polished my creative writing at summer intensives such as WriteNow at the University of North Carolina at Ashville. I also began developing my writing across mediums. I attended The School of The New York Times Summer Academy at which I presented my personal essay during a public forum held in the New York Times building and was appointed as a program ambassador. I joined my school’s Future Business Leaders of America team and competed in business communications. I served as my high school’s student council communications director. I stuffed my high school schedule with journalism and college-level writing courses.

 

At American University, I have continued to grow my writing and reporting skills. I have covered a variety of feature and hard news stories; I reported on D.C. City Hall meetings, DACA and other immigration issues, documentary ethics and much more. I have made my studies a priority at AU and have been on the School of Communication’s Dean’s List every semester since the spring of 2018. Based on my academic performance, I was invited to participate in school and national programs such as the Washington Mentorship Program, the Early Identification Program, the Alumni Mentorship Program and the Kappa Tau Alpha journalism honor society.

 

Following my passion for writing has also led me to a multitude of incredible opportunities and unexpected skill sets—from public relations to project management. I have had my poetry published in the D.C. literary magazine, The Gargoyle, and the American University Literary magazine, AmLit. I have also contributed features and hard news pieces to the American University chapter of Her Campus.

 

In the fall of 2018, I interned with PBS’ To The Contrary, where I wrote for and maintained the show’s blog and social media platforms, edited videos, reached out to interview subjects, developed interview questions and more. In 2020 and 2021 I worked as a press intern with the U.S. Trustee Program in the Department of Justice as a co-project manager for the program quarterly Bulleting—writing for, editing, designing and managing the publication. After accepting an offer to extend my internship, I was promoted to a senior intern position during which I trained junior interns.

 

As I enter the professional world, I am thrilled to use my newly acquired knowledge, implement my many ideas and learn as much as I possibly can.