Alex Knisely, ’13, returned to his hometown of New Philadelphia, Ohio after graduating to work for The Times-Reporter, a daily newspaper, where he covers the crimes and court beat.
Knisely, who majored in communication, has covered several murder investigations, including a capital murder case that received attention from overseas news outlets. He was also a lead writer for two “Meth in the Valley” special projects in 2014, as well as co-author of a series on marijuana legalization in 2015. He received an award for Best Explanatory Reporting from the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors for his work on the marijuana legalization piece.
More recently, a three-part project about the nation’s opiate epidemic was published in several newspapers owned by GateHouse Media, including The Columbus Dispatch.
In addition to working as a reporter, Knisely is also the business editor, and he oversees The Times-Reporter’s business section and reports on business-related topics.
Knisely’s experiences at Muskingum helped to prepare him for his current career. He says, “As a communication major, I was exposed to the school's student media outlets where I really got a hands-on, close-up experience with the field I wanted to enter. I spent all of my undergraduate career either writing for The Black & Magenta or hosting several shows on WMCO. Those opportunities allowed me to just scratch the surface of the proverbial "real world" and helped me understand what tools I would need after graduation when I entered my professional career.”
Knisely says that he chose Muskingum “because it was far enough from home for me to experience ‘college life,’ but small enough to be recognized as a student and not just a random person among thousands of other college adults. I come from a small town and I felt Muskingum preserved that small-town atmosphere while exposing me to a wide world of opportunities.”
In addition to working at WMCO, Orbit Television and The Black & Magenta, Knisely was also a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, where he formed lasting friendships and gained valuable leadership skills.
Knisely advises current college students not to underestimate “the value of a good internship. Sitting in a classroom and learning from a textbook or getting involved with student organizations tailored to your major can only go so far. If a senior hasn't completed an internship yet, I would suggest doing one, even if the degree doesn’t require one for graduation. I believe the more hands-on experience you have in the real workforce, the more valuable you are as a job candidate.”