A study abroad opportunity puts CJC students in Milan for the Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are here, and as athletes and spectators around the world gather in Italy for the big event, a group of students from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications are stationed in Milan to join coverage teams for the games, giving them unparalleled real-world experience in sports journalism at the highest levels.

For the next six weeks, the students will work to create media content surrounding the Winter Olympic and Paralympic games both taking place in Milan and the northern Italy region. Some are working for outlets such as the WESH television station in Orlando, while others are shadowing media professionals or working on other projects sent to other partners.

A  students are part of the Winter Olympics in Italy study abroad program, a semester-long excursion led by Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Media Production, Management, and Technology Roxane Coche, Ph.D., CJC Instructor Bridget Grogan and Director of Sports Journalism and Communication Eric Esterline.

The semester-long excursion is broken up into three phases, each of which brings new classes, goals and activities. In the first section, students focused on preparing for the games and took courses on visual storytelling and Italian culture taught by local professors. Students also got a chance to familiarize themselves with Milan through immersion, being housed just a short bus ride away from downtown Milan and free to explore the city in their free time. The third phase, which takes place after the games, is where students finish their classes, including a course preparing them for the job market by teaching them how to build resumes, cover letters and portfolios. Both phases also include visits to local companies for professional development and day trips to cultural sites for fun and immersion.

The second phase, which began last week before the Friday opening ceremony, is where most of the action lies. During this critical time, students are given a break from their regular classes to focus on the games and have as authentic an experience as possible as sports journalists while receiving mentorship and guidance from industry professionals. In addition to reporting on results and memorable moments from the competition, students are encouraged to find stories outside the events by talking with athletes and their families, coaches and attendees.

“The stories students come up with this way can be fascinating, and it leaves more room for growth and the development of critical thinking and investigative skills,” Coche said. 

Brooke Bastedo, a sophomore journalism major and public relations minor, plans to work in international sports media one day, so when she learned about this program it seemed like the perfect fit for her. As a big hockey fan, she’s excited to watch the NHL players in person and hopes to become more confident with her story pitches and gain experience living on her own outside the U.S. She also loves meeting new people and learning their stories, and so far, she has found that those experiences happen often in Milan.

 “For instance, when we were at the airport last weekend, I saw a group of about 10 middle-aged women all wearing pink sweaters and just had to go over and ask them what was happening,” Bastedo explained. “It turned out that one of the women is getting married, so all her friends were throwing a ‘hen party’ in Madrid.”

Emma Raulerson, a senior also majoring in journalism and minoring in public relations, is also looking forward to watching the hockey games and participating in professional development opportunities, but immersion is what excites her the most. She plans to pursue a media career in the fashion industry after graduating, so being able to explore one of the fashion capitals of the world and take in the language and culture is a dream come true.

“I'm really hoping to take away life experience more than anything from this program,” said Raulerson. “Living in a foreign country and navigating the differences in ways of life, language and culture is really interesting and can be challenging at times, but I think it would make anyone a more well-rounded individual.”