About Me.
Anne Marie Durgin is a journalism major and a photography minor in the B.A. Journalism program at the University of Memphis. She currently is the editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, The Daily Helmsman, and was previously the managing editor for spring 2024. Anne Marie enjoys writing about arts and entertainment, lifestyle, and fashion.
Anne Marie also runs her own side photography business, Anne Marie Durgin Photography. She picked up a passion for photographing after seeing her friends’ enjoyment from taking photos with their own businesses.
Anne Marie works at Belltower Coffeehouse and Studio as a barista, where she enjoys talking with customers and creating relationships with regulars. Her regular customers and coworkers are her friends, and she loves going to work every day for the good people and the good matcha.
After graduation, Anne Marie plans to move to Nashville with her boyfriend, Aidan, and her cat, Rory, and work at a magazine and grow her photography business, and start a family.
My Story.
For the longest time, I never imagined writing and journalism as a possible career. All throughout middle and high school, I dedicated my time to music, hoping to become a high school band director. In March 2021, I auditioned for the music school at the University of Memphis and was rejected. For a few months, I struggled with my future - what was I going to do? What do I want to do? During my new student orientation, I realized how much I enjoyed writing - especially structured stories. I quickly became caught up in the idea of working for an online newspaper. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I had a more specific topic I enjoyed researching - fashion. The idea of working for a high-end fashion magazine, such as VOGUE or Harper's Bazaar, sprouted in my mind. A lot of my free time now correlates with fashion, whether that be looking at the newest trends, following influencers on their fashion journeys, or reading about upcoming events, and so much more. My journey is only beginning and I cannot wait to see where the future takes me.
Education
August 2021 - Present
Journalism (with photography minor)
University of Memphis
I am currently enrolled in Journalism and have acquired skills in editorials (visual media) and news story structure (media writing), as well as reporting, interviews, recording and other multimedia elements (multimedia storytelling). I have also acquired skills in social media journalism and feature writing. I am currently the editor-in-chief for the Daily Helmsman, University of Memphis' campus newspaper.
I am expanding my knowledge in photography and I have done a few event shoots. I have my own side photography business, shooting a couple times each month and editing photos.
Resume
Awards
Anne Marie received the Memphis Press-Scimitar Award for her story about Belltower Coffeehouse and Studio in spring 2024 as well as the McDaniel Scholarship Fund in Journalism.
Anne Marie has received the Dean's Scholarship since August 2021. She was also on the Dean's List for Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024.
