Why I became a journalist

Hey, there. It's been a while.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on why I became a journalist. It’s a question I don’t often pause to consider, but sometimes it’s good to take a step back. I didn’t grow up idolizing famous reporters or dreaming of breaking the next big story; honestly, I sort of stumbled into this career. Looking back, though, I can see how every step led me here, and why I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

I recently talked with a colleague in the industry who told me she was encouraged to become a journalist because of the great journalistic duo Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Others seemingly fell into the field observing and striving after personalities like Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, Don Bolles, Katie Couric, Barbara Walters or Diane Sawyer. It wasn't exactly that way for me.

FURTHER READING: Local reporters need you to make local news happen

I've always been curious about the world and the people in it. Apparently, I was the kid who never stopped asking "why." For most of my life, I thought I’d become a doctor—helping people every day seemed like the perfect way to make a difference. But then one day, someone asked if I wanted to join the high school newspaper. I didn’t know it at the time, but saying yes to that opportunity changed everything.

One of my first assignments was to interview some of the first teachers and students from the newly consolidated Barren County High School. Many of those people have since passed, and knowing I had the chance to capture their stories firsthand and preserve that history was thrilling. It still is. I quickly became the student who’d stay late after school—sometimes for hours—just to cover site-based decision-making council meetings. Keeping people informed about important school decisions and holding leaders accountable fueled my passion then, and it still drives me today.

Before I graduated high school, I was anchoring the morning news at WCLU Radio, interviewing newsmakers and writing stories. I loved every bit of it. Covering city council meetings and chasing ambulances taught me so much about the community, while heated utility board meetings and elections taught me even more. I could probably write a book about my time there—it shaped who I am today. It ignited my eagerness to learn, helped me build connections, and pushed me to grow beyond my limits. More than anything, it taught me the real reason I chose journalism: the people and the impact of local news.

I know it sounds cliché—everyone claims they're driven by "the people." But for me, it’s the absolute truth. Journalism without people is like ice without water—it just can’t exist. The stories I’ve told, the interviews I’ve conducted, and the connections I’ve made all come back to the heart of journalism: the people. That’s what drives me, and that’s why I keep doing it.

Isn’t it strange that we live in a world more connected than ever, yet so many of us feel isolated like never before? That’s one reason I believe journalism matters now more than ever. While technology links us, it’s the real human stories that remind us of our shared experiences. Journalism bridges that gap, connecting people in ways that social media and news feeds simply can’t. Our curated echo chambers reinforce the same ideas, but real, local news challenges that and bring diverse voices to the forefront.

I also believe in what we do to keep our communities honest.

Freedom of the press is the only job title explicitly protected in the United States Constitution, and I take that responsibility very seriously. In a time when fewer news outlets are willing to ask hard questions and assess credibility, bona fide journalists are essential for keeping a community honest. With so many voices now having a platform, we see a rise in misinformation and confusion among the masses. I support everyone’s right to have an opinion, but those opinions should be grounded in facts and evidence. Journalists need to get back to providing what people want—and need. That means digging deeper and having the uncomfortable conversations that lead to real growth.

On the local news front, we’re navigating a delicate balance between covering the daily happenings in our community and addressing the scandal involving an employee of a public agency, just to name a couple of examples. We want to celebrate and memorialize our town, but we also have a responsibility to hold people accountable and identify where things went wrong. If we stop doing that, we might as well stop calling ourselves journalists.

For me, I aspire to be a blend of Charles Kuralt and Bob Woodward. I love capturing the nuances of humanity and reminding people that what truly matters often lies beyond the daily headlines. I also want to earn a reputation for making bad actors face accountability and ensuring their actions don’t go unchecked. Good people shouldn’t be taken advantage of. These are things I hope I'm known for.

Keeping people engaged and informed motivates me immensely. I’ve realized that tradition can quickly become a barrier to reaching audiences effectively. You have to meet people where they are. Being clear and honest in how you inform them is essential—especially in today’s fast-paced world.

Why did I become a journalist? Because, at my core, I believe in the power of storytelling, in capturing moments that might otherwise be lost, and in giving people a voice. Journalism lets me do that every day. I may not have followed in the footsteps of Cronkite or Woodward, but I found my own path. In the process, I discovered that local news, with its pulse on the heartbeat of community life, is where I truly belong.

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