For this week’s Meet the Media, we’d like you to meet Camilla Mortensen, editor of the Eugene Weekly.
- How did you find yourself as the editor at the Eugene Weekly?
I started as an environment reporter — with no background in journalism — and then, despite resisting as I love to write, was promoted to associate editor and then editor. I also love to teach and bring along young writers, so working with writers is a good fit for me.
- Which of your stories are you most proud of?
I tell people there’s stories that other people think are your best and then there’s stories that you love for entirely different reasons.
The ones I’m most proud of the ones that made a difference in the world, either to one person or to a community. In the past it was stories such as the one I wrote on high speed fiber that spurred Eugene to get high speed fiber or on water quality that made people realize we need to protect the river. More recently, I’ve had writing interns help keep a man from being deported for something he didn’t do, and bring ongoing attention to the plight of the homeless and I’m so proud of what these writers did and do to help people through our newspaper.
- What is your favorite thing about your job?
Writing. It’s like going into another zone. But also interviewing people about things I know nothing about and become fascinated by them.
- What is your interview style?
Casual. I let people talk and let the answers come.
- What do you look for in a story?
Some journalists say all good stories have a conflict. I like to think they have something that can change. A way we can make a difference whether it’s through writing about a business that does interesting things or a crime that could be prevented.
- What is your day like at your job?
Since it’s an alt weekly, we are pretty crazy early in the week with writing and editing but later in the week it’s a lot of interviewing and trading advice and ideas. I bring my dogs to work and I think they prefer the chattier days!
- What is your favorite news outlet?
Aside from my own? I like different outlets for different reasons! High Country News for its environment reporting, New York Times and Washington Post for digging into politics. Other alt weeklies for their features … I love anything that publishes a good longform feature!
- Fill in the blank:
- If I am not reporting, I am… riding my horse.
- If I could interview anyone, it would be… Barack Obama.
- What is your guilty pleasure? Sneaking away to the barn.
Check out last week’s Meet the Media where we spotlighted Damian Radcliffe, journalism professor at the University of Oregon and regular contributor to the BBC Academy, ZDNet, Huffington Post, and more.
Want to be featured in a Meet the Media? Email ofuller@feareygroup.com