Near the end of my college career, I was lucky enough to land an internship here at Lookout Santa Cruz. Now that my internship is coming to a close and I gear up for graduation, I wanted to look back and share what I learned over my year here at Lookout. My internship was incredibly interesting, productive, and quite frankly life-changing. As I learned basic skills in the newsroom, I learned to take my work more seriously and had the opportunity to do one of the things I love: write. Along the way, I interviewed staff members and learned more about journalism, their careers and their lives. Here are my top takeaways….
1. Breaking into journalism takes persistence (and sometimes luck).
I learned that many of my coworkers faced similar challenges when starting their journalism careers, and how persistence helped them find their place in the field.
Kevin’s path to Lookout, for example, began almost by chance. He started working in journalism in high school, where he experienced a serious car accident that left him in a coma. Three months later, he returned to school, still optimistic about pursuing photography for the yearbook. But an unexpected opportunity changed his direction: He was asked to become a photographer for the student newspaper, a role he knew little about.
Lily, Lookout’s food & drink correspondent, grew up around food, as her parents owned a restaurant and worked as part-time caterers. She and her parents enjoyed exploring different restaurants, while she also developed a lifelong interest in reading and writing. Those interests eventually came together in a career that combines her appreciation for food with her passion for storytelling.
What was also fascinating about interviewing Lily was how insightful she was when talking about restaurants we have here in Santa Cruz. We don’t really have any restaurants that fit the “upper class” or “haute cuisine” category. She described how “Santa Cruz doesn’t have any Michelin-starred restaurants – we have one mentioned in the guide. Whereas, if you go to Monterey County, they have many.” That observation resonated with me. Growing up, I had noticed that Santa Cruz didn’t have many restaurants that seemed to receive the same kinds of recognition as expensive restaurants found down in Los Angeles or in San Francisco.
I also saw a strong connection between Lily’s knowledge of the local food scene and the dedication many Lookout staff members have to this community. That means meeting people or businesses in person, talking with people face to face rather than through Zoom or phone calls, and overall, exploring the many factors that make Santa Cruz a uniquely amazing place.
Hillary, on the other hand, had a much different upbringing, but her experience reflected some of the same challenges. Hillary attended Columbia Journalism School in New York and graduated in 2017, fully aware that journalism was a difficult profession to enter and that its changing economics could take a toll on both personal finances and one’s self-esteem. In that regard, I noticed that several of my interviewees had overcome similar struggles early in their careers. Those shared experiences may help explain the close-knit nature of the newsroom.
For example, Max described journalism work life as so financially challenging early in his career that he needed two jobs to stay on track and make ends meet. Kevin describes a different toll on photojournalists, as they can struggle to capture massive tragedies.
“Because, when I’m looking through the camera…it literally provides a barrier so that I’m looking at so much stuff that’s going ‘round me. I’m looking at the person, I’m looking at what the background is, I’m looking at what is the story I’m trying to tell through this photograph?”
2. Every journalist has a story they want to tell.
I discovered the different topics and issues my coworkers are passionate about covering and what drives their interest in journalism. I also learned how much becoming part of a community can shape a journalist’s sense of purpose, particularly when the work requires spending long hours in the field and building relationships with people.
At the end of each interview, I asked if there was a story they wished someone would cover in Santa Cruz that isn’t getting enough attention. Four of my interviewees identified issues in Watsonville and South County. Kevin, Tania, Duffy and Richard each expressed an interest in the health and well-being of Watsonville and its residents, although their specific areas of interest differed.When I asked Duffy what story he would like to see Lookout cover, he pointed to the issue of battery storage. Although Lookout has reported on the issue, he would like to see more coverage from news outlets and environmental professionals about its potential effects on nearby farms, the water supply and public health, including possible cancer risks.
Tania, meanwhile, wants to cover pesticide use on Watsonville farms. Specifically, she wants to continue covering how these pesticides can remain on farmers’ clothes, skin, hair, shoes, and especially on their hands and how it affects the people around them. Her interest also raises questions about what protections are available to agricultural workers and whether safer alternatives could reduce the risks to workers and the broader community.
Richard, on the other hand, wants to continue following how pesticides are used in growing and harvesting strawberries. I find this particularly intriguing, because Richard explained that strawberries are one of “the hardest crops to grow.” That is something I had no idea before interviewing him.
Finally, Kevin’s interest is not specifically in farming but in the lives of immigrants and their families in Watsonville and South County. He wants to hear directly from people who have worked hard to come to this country and build a better life for themselves and their families.
Taken together, these interests show that my coworkers’ ambitions extend beyond the issues themselves. Whether the subject is agricultural practices, environmental health or immigration, they are interested in the people whose lives are affected. I found it interesting that so many of my colleagues share a commitment to telling stories about Watsonville and the people who call it home.
3. There’s no single path into journalism.
Some of my coworkers came to journalism with different educational backgrounds, career plans, or original aspirations, showing me that there are many ways to find your way into the field.
Those backgrounds sometimes had little to do with journalism. For instance, Duffy’s first real job was in his family’s restaurant, while Max studied politics at Occidental College before switching to journalism. As Max explained, “and then I took a journalism class just because, ‘ah,’ I thought it would be interesting. I can write.”
I found Max’s change in direction particularly interesting. What began as an elective class eventually led him toward a career he hadn’t originally planned on pursuing. I love that! It shows how an unexpected interest or opportunity can change someone’s professional direction.
Tania was also quite interesting. She’s a firm believer that the positive side of a story impacts people and the community, particularly when paired with reporting that offers another perspective.
I also learned from Tania that Watsonville is a major hub for the state’s fruit and produce markets. There are countless things to focus on in Watsonville. While harvesting produce is essential to the local economy, the work also raises questions about the dangers of pesticides and their potential effects on agricultural employees and nearby communities.
I learned that whenever I eat a sandwich with lettuce or tomato, a considerable amount of work goes into it, and everyday citizens are exposed to it. Interviewing Tania helped me better understand the people behind that work and the potential risks they face.
4. Problem-solving is part of the job.
I learned how my coworkers navigate unexpected challenges, work through confusion, and find solutions when things don’t go as planned.
Journalism is not always very predictable. Richard described how at his last job, there was always the option to take a problem, or a potential solution to a problem up to his superior. He said one of the things that attracted him to become Lookout’s Executive Editor was the opportunity to be that final point of accountability himself. Rather than passing an issue up the chain, he would now be the person expected to take ownership of it.
Another thing I learned from interviewing Hillary was how music can influence and inspire people in unexpected ways. I found it quite interesting. I hadn’t previously considered that music could have a neutral alignment or influence, rather than being tied to a particular message or identity. When I think of music, I tend to associate different genres with specific themes and audiences: death metal, jazz, rap, hip-hop, rock, mariachi, goth, and grunge. Hillary’s perspective challenged some of those assumptions.
What I found somewhat unique about Duffy’s interview was his perspective on how Lookout’s clients view their success. “We don’t – we don’t judge what someone’s success looks like; they judge what their success looks like.” I found some common psychology and wisdom in that comment. It was a reminder that success isn’t necessarily defined the same way by everyone.
5. Good journalism takes more than good writing.
I gained a new appreciation for the organization, discipline, work ethic, and sense of purpose that go into producing trustworthy local news.
Looking back at all seven interviews, I’ve learned to respect and appreciate journalism for what it is and what it stands for. To me, journalism means being completely honest with the public about past and present events and sharing information accurately and responsibly.
For instance, Tania firmly believes in sharing people’s stories and making sure everyone has a chance to speak and say what is on their mind. Hilary emphasized the importance of telling reliable stories about the community, even as layoffs and other challenges continue to affect the newspaper industry.
Most importantly, I think I’ve learned that journalism requires persistence, curiosity and a genuine commitment to the communities being covered. That is what I have learned from all seven of my interviewees.
Simon Woolever is a student at San Jose State University who interns at Lookout Santa Cruz through a partnership with Community Life Services.
