As the chief of staff to BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith, Meredith Kennedy ’09 is Smith’s eyes and ears in the newsroom. She helps communicate and launch his special projects and partnerships inside and outside the company.
“I love being a part of a news team that breaks big stories every day and creates real impact through their reporting,” Kennedy says. “Our newsroom is a place that encourages creativity and empowers you to take risks. If you have an idea, you run with it, and if it doesn't work out, you learn from it.”
Kennedy worked on The Spectator at Hamilton. After she graduated she earned a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she concentrated in digital media. Her jobs since Hamilton included working as executive assistant to Katie Couric, a veteran television journalist.
At BuzzFeed Kennedy leads a speaker series, “Breakfast at BuzzFeed,” which brings in a range of people for conversation with Smith and the staff.
“I majored in communication at Hamilton, and being able to communicate well, both in the written and verbal form, is of utmost importance in my job. My experience as captain of the women's cross country team also helped me become a real self-starter and a leader, which are skills I draw on every single day,” Kennedy says. “We've also got a few other Hamilton grads at BuzzFeed, and it's always nice to see familiar faces.”
(Note: Hamilton now offers communication only as a minor, not as a major.)
