Meet Our Reporters
Sophie Barlow
(she/her)
Sophie Barlow is an Oregon-based illustrator and designer with a passion for creating imaginative visual solutions for complex stories. Sophie discovered her love for editorial work while studying at the University of Oregon, where she worked as art director for Ethos Magazine and as an illustrator for various other student publications. As an Oregonian, born and raised, Sophie feels the most inspired when she can be alongside nature.
Ways to connect with Sophie:
- @sophieb__art on Instagram
Rediscovering my Passion Within the NextGeneration Community
During this project I learned that the NextGen community is so passionate about what they do, and that work spaces can be just as fun as they are productive. I think it’s easy to get bogged down in work, but it’s been really clear that beautiful stories are coming out...
Laura Dux
(she/her)
Laura is a student journalist studying radio production at Pasadena City College. Her theater background has inspired her to share stories that are accessible, intimate and impactful. She is currently the assistant social media editor at The Courier at PCC and a live events intern at LAist. Originally from Hawaii, she is constantly searching for a good bowl of poke in Los Angeles.
Ways to connect with Laura:
- @itslauradux on instagram
- Laura’s Website
Use Your Passion, Follow Your Gut, and Surround Yourself With Support
I love looking up to people. Partially because I’m only five feet tall, but also because I think there are so many incredibly talented people doing the things I want to be doing. Sometimes this creates impostor syndrome, a lack of self confidence, and makes me limit...
Brandon Killman
(he/him)
Brandon Killman is a community journalist with a focus on storytelling for a digitally native audience. He’s worked on social media teams for broadcast news stations CNN and ABC-7. More recently, he creates social media content for a start-up news platform called Zivvy News, which aims to engage a Gen Z audience, and is a part-time social media producer for LAist. In his off time, he’s getting lost in antique stores or playing retro video games.
Ways to connect with Brandon:
Baby Carrots and Peanut Butter Pretzels Can Get You Through Tight Deadlines
This week was a humbling and affirming experience wrapped into one, and the excitement began even before the start of the week. I applied for the USC Next Generation Radio project after remembering my old classmates from my senior year of college trying the program...
Jill Shih
Jill Shih is a caregiver and journalist in Southern California, with a passion for telling stories about marginalized communities. She aspires to become an investigative reporter dedicated to covering the neurodivergent population. Previously, she worked as a general assignment reporter for a bi-weekly newspaper in Henderson, Nev., C-SPAN Networks, and as a news producer for the ABC affiliate in Las Vegas. Jill has a great love for her family and Hilo, Hawaii, where she was born.
Ways to connect with Jill:
My Road to Acceptance Through the Art of Storytelling
I wonder if my need for healing is what called me to apply for NPR’s Next Generation Radio project. Two years ago, my non-verbal, autistic daughter — who was seven at the time — walked out our front door while I was on a Zoom call. I discovered she went missing when I...
Alyssah Hall
(she/her)
Alyssah Hall is a freelance reporter for the Los Angeles Sentinel and AfroLA. She is passionate about highlighting minority stories, arts, culture and mental health. She aspires to one day have her own media company to platform people of color, specializing in solution-driven journalism and uplifting narratives. Alyssah is a Cal State Los Angeles 2023 graduate and was formerly a multimedia reporter for Cal State LA’s University Times. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga and meditation.
Ways to connect with Alyssah:
Growth and Grace with NextGenRadio
My experience as a NextGen reporter has been one of the most impactful weeks of my life. I came into the week really nervous and unsure of myself, but I feel like I’ve grown and learned so much from everyone here. I didn’t realize how hard I could be on myself until I...
Lolita Mojica
Lolita Mojica is a journalism student at Long Beach City College. Her goal is to amplify the voices of her community through writing, photography and audio. She is currently editor-in-chief of the Viking News at Long Beach City College and a content writer and editor at LB Living. She is a member of the National Association for Hispanic Journalists. In her free time, she enjoys taking long hikes with Daphne, her two-year-old German Shepherd/Husky, and nerding out on vinyl and good books.
Ways to connect with Lolita:
The Biggest Lesson I Learned: Be Present
When my journalism professor at Long Beach City College first presented me with the idea of applying to NextGen, I laughed him off. While I was confident in my writing, I wasn’t so sure that I had what it takes to produce an entire news segment with an audio...