When Anthropology and Journalism major Andrew Califf decided to spend a semester at NYU Tel Aviv, he thought he might get the opportunity to gain direct experience in social media management or land a general journalism internship. What he actually achieved, in just a few months, was the publication of multiple articles in Haaretz—the Israeli equivalent of the New York Times. This incredible experience helped bring him closer to his dream career.

From Internship to Mentorship

The third-year College of Arts and Science (CAS) student was no stranger to studying abroad. He had already spent a semester in Shanghai, wanting to take full advantage of the global campus that inspired him to enroll in NYU in the first place. But this time, he was determined to immerse himself in his passion for archaeology through NYU’s program in Tel Aviv. Israel, with its proximity to diverse Middle Eastern cultures and its incredible wealth of ruins, seemed like a perfect fit. And when he realized the opportunities Haaretz presented, it sealed the deal. “I met with an internship coordinator from Haaretz when I was in Nicaragua at an archaeology field school this summer,” Andrew says. “She had seen some of the fieldwork I was doing on my website, and the first thing we talked about was the archaeology department there. I didn’t even know that was a possibility!”

And what a treasure trove of possibilities it was. Though the newspaper’s archaeology section is widely read, publishing high-profile stories that attract the attention of the Smithsonian and National Geographic, the department is very small. Editor Ruth Schuster—whom Andrew would come to work directly with as he learned the ropes and mastered the tools of the trade—writes a large portion of the articles. “At first, I was in over my head,” Andrew admits. “I had to learn very quickly—to be able to take a step back from failure and figure out how to breeze through that part of the editing process the next time.” But before long, Andrew moved from simple listicles to features and news stories. “Ruth is one of the best archaeological journalists there is,” he says. “She saw my talent and desire to succeed, and because of her help and support, I’m gaining exponentially more than I ever thought I could from this experience.”

Opportunities Abroad

Beyond Haaretz, the region has much to offer Andrew during his time abroad. At NYU Tel Aviv, he has found a great circle of peers driven by excellence and committed to making a difference. “This is a very healthy environment for me,” he says. “I’m writing about people who have been dead for thousands of years, but I’m surrounded by people with such passion for things that are afflicting the world today. People come here to help refugees, teach English, and work in conflict resolution. Working amid that energy is just incredible.” In his free time, Andrew ventures beyond the city, traveling to other parts of Israel as well as Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Tunisia.

When he’s not out exploring, Andrew relies on interviews to connect to those out in the field he hopes to join someday. “Archaeologists and anthropologists have time for you, and they love talking about what they’ve found,” Andrew says. At the same time, he uses his journalistic skills to zero in on unique findings, to make his work stand out from other publications covering the same story like CNN and National Geographic. “Being able to tell good stories while conducting good fieldwork is so important,” Andrew emphasizes. “If you go out and discover incredible places and incredible artifacts, you shouldn’t hide that in a boring abstract and a boring background with hundreds of footnotes. The combination of work I’m pursuing—it feels like I’m doing what I’ve always been called to do.”

Thinking about the future, Andrew has his sights set on an internship with National Geographic. He also hopes to do fieldwork in Mongolia, another step on his path toward specializing in journalism and archaeology in remote areas. He’s excited for his upcoming senior year and wants to pursue honors in both anthropology and journalism.

Written by Sarah Bender