After COVID-19 delayed my post-graduation plan—teaching English in Belgium on a Fulbright Scholarship—I was fortunate to be hired as a Community News Reporter for WSLR. I quickly fell in love with the position, largely because the work I was doing felt both personally and professionally fulfilling. As the pandemic worsened across the state, I was able to hear and share stories from the community. By speaking with a variety of locals, including small business owners, public health officials, politicians and COVID-19 survivors, I’ve connected with the Sarasota community on a much deeper level than I did when I was a student. I remember when one community member thanked me profusely at the end of an interview for getting her COVID story out there, as she had been ignored and mistreated by doctors who thought she was “mimicking what she saw on TV.” Conversations like that made my work feel especially important and, because of WSLR, I was able to find, pursue and share that story.
WSLR solidified my love for journalism, but also allowed me to explore a new medium: radio. Through my work and thoughtful conversations with coworkers, I developed skills in audio editing, natural-sounding storytelling and, ultimately, radio news production. I’ve always been a fan of public radio, but being behind the scenes has inspired me to continue pursuing opportunities in radio news. Professionally, this position has expanded my reach as a journalist. My stories have been picked up by Pacifica-affiliated programs, such as COVID, Race and Democracy, and radio stations across the country. I’ve interviewed high-profile political representatives, such as Margaret Good, Michele Rayner and, most recently, Amy Klobuchar. As a budding journalist fresh out of college, I deeply value the learning opportunities WSLR has provided me.
Good storytelling is powerful. Especially now, as COVID-19 misinformation infects our community, politicized attacks undermine trust in independent media and social unrest highlights injustice within our country. I’m incredibly grateful that WSLR gave me the opportunity to connect with the community and share its stories.