What two summer interns taught a CEO about journalism's next generation
Mexico News Daily's commitment to journalism extends beyond daily reporting to nurturing future journalists. This summer, two student interns with starkly different backgrounds worked at the publication's San Miguel de Allende office, offering CEO Travis Bembenek fresh insights into how the next generation approaches their craft.
Jared, a journalism major entering his senior year at the University of Washington, arrived from the Chicago area as a self-described introvert passionate about sports journalism. Despite five years of Spanish classes, his speaking skills needed work. His first trip to Mexico contrasted sharply with his European travels.
Zella's journey took the opposite path. Born in Manhattan, she moved to San Miguel at six months old and lived there until age 15. Now attending boarding school in California while her parents remain in the colonial city of approximately 174,000 residents — where foreign residents constitute about 10% of the population — she returns as a completely bilingual extrovert preparing to lead her high school newspaper.
The age range in the San Miguel office this summer spanned from 17 to 32, creating an unusual generational mix that revealed several patterns about journalism's future.
The AI paradox
Both interns grappled with artificial intelligence's dual nature. They recognized its potential to simplify their work while understanding the risks of over-reliance. The dilemma reflects broader industry tensions: a 2026 Reuters Institute report found that 97% of media executives consider end-to-end automation essential, yet optimism about journalism overall has dropped 22 percentage points since 2022, with only 38% now optimistic about the industry.
By early 2026, roughly half of workers use AI tools during their workday, and AI has become embedded in newsroom workflows. Mexico News Daily established clear boundaries: zero AI in writing, but research applications remain acceptable. This policy aligns with industry trends showing AI's greatest value lies in helping journalists process information efficiently through tasks like summarizing articles, transcribing interviews, and data analysis.
What struck Bembenek most was the interns' reluctance to discuss AI's potential impact on their careers. Neither wanted to explore how automation might reshape journalism or their professional prospects. Their avoidance — whether naivety, denial, or youthful optimism — left questions about preparedness for an industry in flux.
The reading question
Book reading among the interns proved minimal. TikTok and Instagram videos have largely replaced traditional reading, reflecting their generation's information consumption patterns. When asked about his last non-fiction book, Jared admitted he had never read one.
Bembenek assigned him two: The Last Emperor of Mexico by Edward Shawcross, exploring Maximilian's story, and Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter, examining the benefits of embracing discomfort. Jared loved the first; the second's message may need time to resonate.
Yet the reading landscape proves more complex than simple decline. While a 2025 journal article documented an annual 3% sustained decline in Americans' reading time over two decades, recent data shows 66% of Gen Z identify as readers — up 14 percentage points from 2022. Additionally, 65% read at least one print book in the previous 12 months, up from 59% in 2022.
Traditional surveys may miss how Gen Z actually reads: multimodally, bouncing between print, e-books, and audiobooks, while engaging with platforms like Wattpad, Webtoon, and Kindle Unlimited that older generations rarely track.
Bembenek expressed concern about society's apparent acceptance of declining book reading among young people, particularly non-fiction. He sees this trend as troubling for developing well-informed citizens who can intelligently communicate ideas.
The writing spark
Both interns' faces lit up when writing. For them, putting thoughts into words created a happy place. Bembenek sees writing as demonstrating comprehension, communication, and logic — if someone cannot write something clearly, they likely cannot communicate it effectively.
This passion for writing stood in stark contrast to their generation's reading habits and AI dependence, creating a paradox: young journalists who love writing but may not read enough and face uncertainty about AI's role in their profession.
Generational differences in independence
The monitoring and oversight Jared experienced from American parents and administrators surprised Bembenek. Zella's parents, having lived in Mexico for years, took a more relaxed approach. A generation ago, study abroad meant true adventure and disconnection from family and authority. While modern technology and safety concerns justify closer contact, Bembenek questioned whether today's students receive sufficient room to grow through independence.
Jared attends a journalism program with strong credentials — the University of Washington's Department of Communication boasts over 18,000 living alumni, including nine who share 13 Pulitzer Prizes. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, including a State Government Communications Program placing students in newsrooms covering the state legislature for 10 weeks.
Mexico News Daily plans to welcome interns again next summer, continuing the exchange where students learn from the team and the team learns from them — insights that prove increasingly valuable as journalism navigates unprecedented change.
