1. Briefly share the path to your current career — why journalism?
I have always loved to read and write. So, when I got to community college and was thinking about my career path, I decided to take a Journalism 101 class. That class showed me how important journalism is and the impact it can have on a community. I soon became the editor of that community college’s paper, and after I got my AA degree, I transferred to Western Washington University. There, I majored in news/editorial journalism and worked on several student publications.
2. What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite thing about my job is how collaborative it is, how many people I get to speak to, and how many topics I get to learn about. In any given week, I might read stories on everything from local government to schools to fire districts to local features and more. It’s always new and interesting, and no two days look the same.
3. Tell us about a moment in your career you are particularly proud of.
My first job out of college was as a reporter for the Stanwood Camano News. When I was hired, I was living in Bellingham, but I decided to move to Stanwood and throw myself into the community I was covering. I’m proud of my dedication and the risk I took moving into a new place so early in my career. I think my reporting drastically improved, and I got to know the people in the area so much better that way.
4. What do you look for in a story?
In the newsrooms I manage now, I mostly look for local relevance. I ask: “Why do people here care? How does it affect them? Why should they know about it?” I believe that the most important stories to tell are the ones going on directly in people’s backyards.
5. What’s the best way for someone to get your attention?
I am always open to pitches and news tips, but as I stated above, I think the best way to get my attention is to explain why the story you’re pitching should be told to our local audience. If you come to me with a local source who can share a personal perspective on a situation, that’s even better.
6. How are you using AI in your work as a journalist today?
I see AI tools as aids that must always be met with editorial oversight. AI might help summarize a story for social media or rework a headline to fit in a print space, but it does not write stories. The top priorities when I think about using AI for any task are accuracy, transparency, and ethical responsibility.
7. What skills have you found most useful in your career?
Something I learned early in my career is that sometimes you have to be OK with being annoying. You might have to bug someone multiple times to get the answers you need — and that’s OK. Don’t give up. Tenacity is a skill I learned quickly.
8. What is something unexpected that you have learned during your career?
Working in small newsrooms helped me see how many people still truly value the news and local reporting. I was surprised by how many community members would tell me how much they appreciated the paper and my reporting. Many may say people don’t read local news anymore, but I don’t think that’s true. I think people just get their information in a variety of ways these days.
Fill in the blank:
If I am not working, I am… spending time with my wife and cats. In the summer, I love to swim in local lakes!
If I could interview anyone, it would be… Darren Criss.
Young journalists inspires me
My favorite thing about (the greater) Seattle area is… the natural beauty and the weather.