Communiqué
WOUB Senior Spotlight: Maddie Harden
< < Back toBy Kae Walther
ATHENS, OH- Maddie Harden, a senior journalism news and information major, is headed back to her hometown of Cleveland after graduation to work as a digital content producer and assignment desk editor at WOIO TV Channel 19. With a minor in political science, Harden hopes her career leads to opportunities to focus on investigative journalism either in Cleveland or maybe, one day, in Washington, D.C.
After interning for WOIO in the summer of 2023, Harden found her passion for broadcast journalism. She says that, even though she started in the WOUB Newsroom later in her college career, she is very thankful to her friends at WOUB for helping her get acclimated to the program. On top of producing and anchoring for WOUB TV’s NewsWatch, Harden is also proud of her time spent writing for The New Political, a digital independent publication run by Ohio University students dedicated to covering politics and government on the Ohio University campus, in the city of Athens and in the state of Ohio.
Harden comes from a long family line of Bobcats, so she says attending Ohio University was “a natural choice.” But it was the journalism program that ultimately sold her on coming to Athens.
When thinking back on her time at WOUB, Harden recalls how much she loved being a part of the election special in November 2023. “I was asked to cover Issue 1 for this special, and it was my very first news package and my on-air debut. I was so nervous about both,” she said. “The help from my fellow WOUBers really got me through it.”
As Harden moves on from Ohio University, she encourages underclassmen to try anything and everything. “Even if it’s your senior year, college is the only chance to have all of these different opportunities offered to you, so be sure to give it all a try.”
Harden also thinks it’s important to grow your network. The WOUB Job Connection Program, where media recruiters come to campus twice a year to interview WOUB students for jobs and internships, as well as interactions with WOUB alumni helped Harden realize the importance of connections.
“I met a recruiter from Gray Television, and it was extremely helpful!” Harden said. “I was also able to receive critiques from visiting alumni on one of the shows I anchored, which offered extremely helpful and needed advice.”
The comradery with other WOUBers and students across campus is what Harden says makes Ohio University a special place.
“My favorite experience at Ohio University would have to be getting to cheer on and grow with all of the talented journalists I’ve spent the last four years with,” she said. “I have had so much fun inside and outside the newsroom, and I can’t wait to continue to follow all the successes of my fellow Bobcats.”