Why I became a journalist

I became a journalist for reasons many others choose this profession: to suss out injustices, with the hope that the work makes lives better.

I chose the profession in high school, growing up in Long Island, New York, in a household where fairness, kindness, and responsibility were greatly stressed by my dad, a hard-working immigrant from Jamaica, and my mom, a coal miner's daughter from West Virginia. Mom taught me to listen and not to be afraid to challenge the status quo. I draw on that teaching every working day and have passed that sentiment on to my two sons.

My drive to fulfill my purpose as a journalist has not wavered over four decades. I approach every story intent on learning the truth, trusting my college journalism school education, lived experience, skill, passion for storytelling, and empathetic heart.

Over the years, I've covered everything from crime and courts to education, health, and social justice. These days, I'm most interested in writing about communities that, for too long, have not been heard.

Being an opinion writer is hard. It exposes the writer's thoughts, passions, ethics, morality—who you are. It's not enough to say only what you think; you must also explain why and back it up with the facts and history that shaped your opinion.

I strive to do that. And as a woman of deep faith, when I sit down to write, I pray about it first.

The best part of this job is not having the winning point. Although I've won many awards for my work, it's the people I've met along the way—those who've agreed with me and even some who haven't.

My mantra is that storytelling is the world's great unifier because if you tell me your story and I listen, and I tell you my story and you listen, there's a good chance we'll find we have something in common.