Missouri Newsroom Network

I’m currently a student at the University of Missouri’s J-School, where they believe in the Missouri Method, a hands-on-learning approach. This is all the work I’ve wrote, researched, interviewed for, reported, and produced. For additional background, part of my curriculum includes working in on our newsroom at one of the outlets. This past fall 2025 semester, I alternated working for the Columbia Missourian as a Community Beat Reporter and KBIA as a General Assignment Reporter.

I still remember the excitement I felt the first time I saw my byline in print. I always knew I wanted to experience writing in a newspaper at least once, a dream fueled by the many fictional journalists who I’d admired as a kid. While I appreciate the accessibility with digital stories, nothing compares to the feeling of reading a physical newspaper. The events that make the front page, the puzzling crosswords, the detailed comics, and, of course, the crisp turn of the pages.

Radio, however, is a different story. My childhood car rides were soundtracked by a chaotic mix: the steady pulse of local news, the metal anthems of Ozzy’s Graveyard, and the irreverent, entertaining rants of Mancow. It was here that I first fell in love with the power of the voice. In high school, I finally got a look behind the curtain at how radio actually works. I’m still a work in progress, figuring out my vocal presence and navigating the technical side of the booth, but I’ve fallen in love with the medium. To me, radio is the best of both worlds, blending the craft of writing with the unique intimacy of the human voice.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have expanded my reporting and writing skills within a professional environment. These stories serve as a testament to my growth and a record of how far I’ve come. They are also a constant reminder of the people I’ve met and the stories they’ve entrusted to me. These digital footprints are more than just a portfolio; they’re a glimpse into the experiences I’ve built and the individuals who shaped my journey along the way. It’s one of the many reasons why I fell in love with journalism, and felt a calling.