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Katie Hyson Profile
Katie Hyson

@katiehyson23

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Reporting on racial justice & social equity for @kpbsnews @npr @pbs Prior: @Report4America @WUFTNews @atrium_magazine | she/her

San Diego, CA
Joined July 2016
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
8 months
“Who are you?” “Katie Hyson with KPBS.” “Ah. I’d hoped they’d send Anderson Cooper.”
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
I run a journalism club for middle schoolers. Today they asked: “Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend?” “I’m married.” “To a boy or to a girl?” My whole spirit lit up. Good journalists don’t make assumptions. They’re gonna do great.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
@EvanHandler Get your praise hands ready Evan — North Central Florida.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
11 months
Journo students, something I wish I was told when I started — A beat is built one story at a time. Don’t stress if you can’t wrap your arms around the whole thing on Day 1. Your knowledge, sourcing and body of coverage will grow each time you report. It takes time. Breathe. ❤️
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
10 months
Was perusing the schedule for an upcoming national conference of police chiefs and spotted this seminar. I’m kinda proud lol
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Journo students — you could spend an hour trawling the internet for story ideas. Or you could spend that same hour talking with a community member and leave with 5+ banger story ideas that no one else has and a new source for life. Try it. Trust me.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
5 years
@sad13 For me (FL) it is having absolutely zero internal reaction to the wildest news story you can think of. Man disguised as bull tried to burn ex’s home down with spaghetti sauce? Sure of course.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
“Do you get paid more if a story is really high quality or gets a ton of views?” “No.” “So your employer gets all the benefits of that and you don’t get any?” 💀💀💀 I don’t know if they thought I was cool but they were definitely cool, Gen Z is something else
@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
I’m going to talk to a bunch of high schoolers today, do you think they’ll think I’m cool 🧍🏻‍♀️
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
8 months
I swore when I took this beat in San Diego that I’d learn Spanish as fast as I could. Roughly 240 days of practicing later, I used it in my reporting for the first time tonight. A really good feeling.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
@laurenjonik It’s been a messy start but my top goals are to provide a safe and engaging space for them after school and to empower them to know they can pursue journalism if they want to, and those goals are being met so I’m calling it a W haha.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
11 months
Reporters talk a lot about how important our work is but can I also say it’s just so FUN? I think I have the most fun, interesting job ever.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
I’m headed to San Diego to report on race and equity for their NPR/PBS station, @KPBSnews . To my neighbors — the moments spent sitting across from you, listening, were some of the most sacred of my life. This letter is for you. @Report4America @WUFTNews
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
6 months
For every one story I put out it really kills me the five worthwhile ones I can’t get to 😭 Support local journalism y’all. We need more reporters out here.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Reporters on beats that regularly bring you face to face with dark, heavy things -- what are your methods for coping or decompressing? Who do you talk to? Are you able to set the weight down? How? Do you actively balance out what you're exposed to? Would love your thoughts 👇🤲
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
3 months
“You’re like an old-school journalist. You actually sit and talk with people. Hang out. You don’t see that much anymore.” 🥹 I don’t think this man knows how much that comment made my week. 🩷
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
My Uber driver suggested NPR might be more engaging if we “added more slide whistles.” About to pitch to my editor, will let you know if he green lights it.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
@TheTinaVasquez @cgoodwoman It took roughly a bajillion DJJ and first aid trainings, a background check, courage to pitch the club to a cafeteria of blank faces, and willingness to consistently chuck my plans out the window and adapt to the moment. Only three weeks in but it’s been absolutely worth it.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
@chief_brody_ I hear you and you’re right! We’re in a rural part of Florida and they’re the first people here who’ve ever asked my spouse’s gender and not assumed, which felt monumental and special, though there’s lots of room for growth.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
The one girl who was able to attend journalism club today takes multiple city buses home, and loves writing so much she was willing to get home hours later to come. She couldn’t believe she was allowed to take the notebook and pen with her and finish her story at home.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
5 years
@LizHackett @AmberTozer One time I walked out in a towel to ask my husband something only to discover he was on a Skype call with: -my former boss -my old pastor -AND my ex They were praying but opened their eyes when they heard me. Anyway we don’t go to church anymore. Only real solution.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Nothing beats interviewing very young people or very old people. This man just casually dropped that his father was Martin Luther King’s dentist. They marched together on the beaches of St. Augustine to see if they could be integrated.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
In my marriage we each bring our strengths to the table to share the workload. For example, my husband cooks absolutely bussin food every night. And I? I get texts from him like this. And I like to think that balances out.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
1/4 👋 HELLO JOURNALISM TWITTER, I need your help! It’s for the children. (And please retweet this thread and tag other journalists! 🔁 I’m hoping for as much diversity as possible. @Report4America ) 👇
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
I'm 30yo and still get absolutely chuffed when a source says I did a good job after an interview. Like a third grader getting a gold star. The unparalleled endorphin rush when they say "That's a great question!" 🤌
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
After an interview yesterday, my source asked me to take a photo of them with their pet 🥹 Never obliged a request so fast.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
The third option to this survey question is so telling 🥴
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
3 years
The phrase “voice for the voiceless” drives me bananas, especially in journalism. Everyone has a voice. Your job is not to speak for them, but to remove the obstacles to them being heard.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
One of the harder parts of journalism is being aware of so many more stories that deserve to be told than there are reporters, time or resources to tell them.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
“Do you get paid more if a story is really high quality or gets a ton of views?” “No.” “So your employer gets all the benefits of that and you don’t get any?” 💀💀💀 I don’t know if they thought I was cool but they were definitely cool, Gen Z is something else
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Just found this in my lease: "Do not keep an excessive number of house plants" – what do we think that number is? 👇
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
6 years
@AdamSerwer @JessicaValenti And the fact that this (and the "Why We Miss the Wasps" article) made it past all the other pairs of eyes and editors and into print says a lot about what raced, gendered minds are in the other positions of power in the newsrooms.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 months
Bruh I love my job so much 😭 I really get to meet so many incredible people and ask nosy questions and learn something new every day and witness history and explore my community — what a life, man.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
4 months
What’s the best narrative longform article you’ve read recently (or ever)? Looking for recs now that Longform doesn’t do best of roundups anymore 😢
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
I, a 31yo woman, just sent this to my dad in Florida to show him how gorgeous my new home is and he’s very concerned about me “climbing on the rocks”
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
I LOVE interviewing researchers because these folks have just been nerding out on their own for years doing fascinating work and then finally someone from "the outside" asks them about it and the enthusiasm and expertise that comes rolling off them is just *chef's kiss*
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
3 months
When I took this job reporting in San Diego I’d wore to myself I’d learn to speak Spanish. One year in it was just put to the test calling all the tortillerías in town to arrange a shoot tomorrow. I got by! Even a couple compliments on my Spanish. My heart is racing loll
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Wrote a goodbye note to a girl who had to leave journalism club, but I think this paragraph is for everyone.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
7 months
I’m about to try to take an extremely nuanced issue and six hours of on the ground reporting and compelling interviews and reduce them into 4 and a half minutes of broadcast 🥲 🫡
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
5 years
@mystical_table @soissagem @mogomorton Saw my older brother last night for the first time in years and the first words out of his mouth were “you wearin those grandpa shoes now wtf??”
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
7 months
I have waited my whole career for when the old j-school advice of “always get the dog’s name” would pay off. Today’s the day. Meet Alexis Gabrielle and her dog, “Princess Gabrielle from Texas.”
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
“We called you because we need a reporter we can trust.” A year into my beat, this phone call meant the world to me.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
No one, and I mean no one, roasts me better or quicker than my dad.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Just pitched a journalism club to a cafeteria full of middle and high school students at lunch time. I am invincible. I can do anything now.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
5 months
Source message got me choked up at 8 am??
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
I love reporting in small communities because over time, all my new sources are connected to prior ones. It's someone's cousin or coworker or elementary school teacher or neighbor. Trust and reputation are make or break – but if you've got that, you're in. And it's just fun.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Just spoke with the @TheAlligator crew and the room was packed wall to wall with college students who are passionate about local journalism, working so hard to provide it, and asking all the right questions. The sight made me tear up a little bit! Rooting for you all! 🥹
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Got back from reporting on a farm, where press scrutiny was intense. I was licked by calves, paid an entry fee of head scratches to an enormous and insistent bull, and had my camera bag thoroughly inspected by a goat named Tyrone.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
I was apologizing to a tribal leader that media swarms when certain things happen but fails to cover indigenous affairs adequately the rest of the time, and she said something to me that every reporter might need to hear: "One story at a time will make a huge difference."
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Too stunned to speak. The middle and high schoolers ASKED ME to take their phones from them before next journalism club so they can focus better???? A Christmas miracle in October 🫢
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Journalism really is a community effort. It takes so many neighbors — and not just the sources that make it into your final story — to do it well. Super grateful for everyone helping me in my new home. 💛
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
4 years
Journalism students, especially at @UFJSchool , really amaze me. Don’t let the high-achieving pool you’re swimming in cause you to doubt yourself. You are doing things most undergraduates would never dare to do.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Came across something I wrote years ago. Sometimes I'm embarrassed by old things I wrote, too distracted by the edits I'd make now to appreciate the words. But in this one, I think I'll always see the words.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
🧵Today I say goodbye to a journalism club middle schooler who’s transferring. I met her just a few months after she lost her teen brother to gun violence. I was amazed by her resilience to keep coming to school, let alone try journalism, something so outside her comfort zone.1/7
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
4 years
@JolieHolland @rgay I swear car dealerships are a cursed portal to the ‘50s.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
One time a middle schooler in journalism club said “you FORGOT the HEADPHONES??” to me with so much unmitigated judgement that to this day it’s always her voice that rings in my head and reminds me to pack them in my bag
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Someone told me the girls in my middle school journalism club are the troublemakers at school and I thought — Perfect. They’ll make great journalists.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
My counselor just gave me some good words that I think could probably be used by all journalists: "Your work is important. It's important, it's hard, and you're allowed to be affected by it." ❤️
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Loll my editor's Slack message is sending me: "You are questioning yourself, and I'm not sure why. 🙂" Printing it. Framing it. Tattooing it on my forearm. Challenging my anxiety with it at one-hour intervals.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
7 months
When I worked for @WUFTNews @NPR I gave my dad a shirt that ended up being too small for him. Opened my mail today to find that his wife turned it into a tank for my dog 💀
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
@KurzawaCaroline Needed this ❤️ three weeks in it has mostly felt like chaos haha, not sure if they’re learning anything yet but I can tell they like the time and feel cared for and believe they could pursue journalism if they wanted to and that’s enough
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
@DEFishback 😆we haven’t made it to hard hitting investigative journalism yet
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
5 years
@KarenKilgariff I think my favourite part is how genuinely proud everyone is at the end, as if this was a valid problem to be having in the first place
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
I photographed a girl holding up her perfect score skip counting sheet & then every 3rd grader who got 100% came quietly over to ask if I could take their picture too & my camera roll is full of their proud little faces 😭 my editor can’t possibly ask me to choose between these
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
It’s 59 degrees in Gainesville, Fla. and there is a slight breeze. Every person walking on this campus looks like an extra in Game of Thrones after winter done already came. The drama is at an all-time high.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
11 months
Friday, I shared the story of a local drag queen. Today, I got an email from a 75yo: “I very much enjoyed your interview with Matthew Lovegood. It is the first time the ‘Drag Queen Persona/Story’ ever made sense to me.” The power of a single story. ❤️
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
9 months
Ah. An immediate auto response to a public information request that is entirely blank. A promising start.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
One of the joys of working in journalism is that I WANT to get better at it, and there’s really no limit to that growth. I’ve worked jobs where that wasn’t the case, and it feels v good to want to be good at my job.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
“OK, I’m going to hit publish now. I know it can feel nerve-wracking, how are you feeling?” Source: “I would be nervous but I’ve read your other coverage and I’m feeling good about it.” Cherishing these words on my last day @WUFTNews @Report4America 🥲
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
3 years
🧵5 years ago I decided I wanted to “tell true stories” — ones that mattered but weren’t getting told because they belonged to people often ignored. Had no idea what that would look like or how I would get there from the farm I was working on, I just knew it was my life’s work👇
@UFJSchool
UF College of Journalism and Communications
3 years
CJC alumna @katiehyson23 joins the @WUFTnews newsroom as a @Report4America corps member covering racial justice issues in east Gainesville. Read more:
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
5 years
@sad13 If you think I made that headline up you’re not from FL.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Source: “Thank you for taking the time to sit down and listen. Because do you ever feel like you’re shouting at the wind? Like you’re yelling, ‘Someone help! Someone witness!’ And I can tell you care, that it’s not just a job for you.” My work is the greatest privilege 🥹
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Thinking about how the number one concern of most of my journalism students was that they’d start reporting and have no story ideas. Sweet child, I promise that will not be the problem.
@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
One of the harder parts of journalism is being aware of so many more stories that deserve to be told than there are reporters, time or resources to tell them.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
The others who signed up should be able to make it in coming weeks, these students just face so many extra hurdles to participating in after school activities. But would I come once a week and sit with this one girl for an hour just to watch her write her heart out? Instant yes.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
10 months
I adopted a dog a few days ago and she gently paws my phone out of my hand whenever I’m on it near her. My screen time is at an all-time low. Highly recommend as a treatment for phone addiction.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
10 months
I came to work at my local library this morning so I could focus better. It’s toddler dance time, apparently. We’re on the third play through of Pharrell’s “Happy.” I am drafting a records request drowning in screams and off-beat claps.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
2/4 I am starting a journalism club at an alternative academic center for middle and high school students. I want them to understand that anyone, from any background, can become a great journalist, and that it’s actually these differences that are so needed in our newsrooms.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
“I have to go back to work.” Journalism club student: “At the news?” Me: “Yes, at The News.”
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
3 years
A dream project in the works with @TheMoniBasu and already such an inspiring team of students. We are still building out the magazine team with reporters, photographers, videographers, artists, designers and web developers. All UF students eligible -- spread the word!🔁 #atrium
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
9 months
Been trying to get our rescue dog to play since we brought her home from the shelter two months ago. Tonight, she played with a toy for the first time. Then she upended her toy bin and played with ALL the toys😭canceled all my evening plans just been watching her for 30min 🥹
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
My dad isn’t an emotions guy & he just said: “Katie, you have always been thrown in the deep end and you always swim to the top. They could throw you in the deepest ocean and you’d swim right to the top.” Me: “😭Dad you’re making me cry!” Dad: “OK I’ll change the subject.”
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
I mentioned to a friend in another city that a story I’m reporting was really getting to me and she immediately venmoed me $25 for “self-care” and I guess the line between me and crying was thinner than the beauty of friendship because now I’m sobbing in my car.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
4 years
I wrote this not to spark fear, but to call attention to a need in a county I serve as a journalist. And so the next person would feel a little less alone. @WUFTNews
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Just had a reporting win that I was so happy about I compulsively did this fist pump move at my desk. I did not know that was within my body language. I thought it was just a movie thing. Hoping nobody saw. 👀
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
My cheeks hurt from smiling the entire last hour of the drive into San Diego. Our new home is so gorgeous 🥹💛
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
My source, a subject expert who speaks nationally, emphasized at least 10x that his work was his wife’s idea and none of it would be possible without her and to please credit her in the story if I could. He probably has no idea how healing that was to hear from a powerful man.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
My HEART when a child comes up to me when I’m reporting and asks me to take their picture with my camera 🥹 it’s so tender and pure and I hope they never lose that.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
3/4 If you come from a lived experience or identity that’s underrepresented in journalism, ✨please send me a short video, 2 min. or less, introducing yourself and how your background has helped your journalism.✨A line or two of pep talk encouragement is also welcome!
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
“I am so glad you’re here. Where has your reporting been my whole life?” 😭 Whew. It was hard leaving Florida. I told myself everywhere needs good equity reporting. But hearing it from a San Diegan in a community I report on was needed affirmation for my heart.❤️
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
She also asked if I “did any other clubs” which was so sweet and I love the idea of an adult that just runs various clubs all over town 😂
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
So happy to say this story won a @FLNewscasters award last night. Yet more confirmation to the alumni that your story, your courage to share it and the words you used to do it are powerful. It was a true highlight of my career to be trusted with it.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
I unironically enjoy public meetings.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Have you ever heard a cow sneeze? It ruined my interview tape and I will cherish it forever.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
@cgoodwoman @TheTinaVasquez 😍 The club is currently all Black female students and we’re in the rural South. So exciting to be able to show them a news source that better reflects them, and the possibilities it represents. Putting this in my back pocket! Thanks so much for your work!
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Actually tearing up to be introduced this way in San Diego four months in 😭😭 So grateful for the people who have trusted me with their stories even though I’m new here.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Did this story to correct misperceptions of this remarkable school, which is almost entirely Black and across the street from the housing authority. People Mag saw it & now the school is getting NATIONAL SHINE. Hell yeah, what a proud day for the east side.
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
Was just (affectionately) called a “newsroom hustler” live on air and I will no longer be accepting any other job title. It’s ✨ pledge drive szn ✨ so don’t forget to give if you can to your local public media station, we really do count on your support!
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
2 years
“Who will listen?” Alonzo asked when I first sat down with him. He told me he’d been waiting and praying for decades for someone to come along and tell this story. Everybody’s listening now, Alonzo, thanks to you and the rest of Mr. Parker’s band. ❤️
@Report4America
Report for America
2 years
And finally, congratulations to @KatieHyson23 , @WUFTNews , who wins the first-ever @Groundtruth Award for “How a Black marching band style was erased from Gainesville’s fields, and why it matters decades later.”
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@katiehyson23
Katie Hyson
1 year
Four years into journalism and answering a listener's question is still one of my favorite parts of the job. 😊
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