Maggie Kates (BSJ21, MSJ21)

Reporter for Mobile Press-Register/AL.com

Tell us about your career path. How did you get where you are today?

While I was at Medill, I completed two internships, one at the New Orleans Advocate (later called the Times-Picayune) and Washingtonian Magazine. It was through these experiences that I learned I wanted to do local reporting. After graduating from the MSJ program, I started freelancing, first by pitching stories I wrote in the MSJ program and later reporting stories for a few outlets. Freelancing helped teach me independence and how to pitch a story with an eye toward the audience. A few months later, I got the job at AL.com as the company was starting a new subscriber product focused on local reporting.

What are your main responsibilities in your current role?

My main responsibilities include tracking the news and pitching stories that matters most to residents of Coastal Alabama, reporting and writing breaking news, daily and enterprise stories, and focusing my reporting on environment, business, and economic development.

How has your Medill training helped you in your career?

Medill offers a range of different classes and experiences. Getting to try many different kinds of reporting was helpful not just for learning what I wanted to do, but also entering a field that’s going through rapid change. I took a data reporting class, which has helped me complete data stories that are interesting and digestible for the audience. I took a couple multimedia classes which helped me get the basics of photo and video.  Though I don’t specialize in any of those areas, in today’s news environment reporters usually have to do a little bit of everything, so it’s helpful to have learned some of the basics in school.

How has the Northwestern Medill network helped you advance in your career?

As I was getting ready to graduate, I had a number of informational interviews with Medill graduates who were more than willing to speak with students. Those interviews helped me understand what employers were looking for, how I could stand out in job interviews, and what opportunities were out there for journalists.

How have your identities influenced the way you navigate your professional career?

I was surprised by how few women there are in journalism (not necessarily just in my newsroom). As a woman, sometimes I understand the importance of stories that may be more of interest to women in the audience. Sometimes that means standing up and advocating for stories I think are important, which can be difficult. I am lucky to have bosses that respect me and my opinions. A diversity of perspectives is a good thing for a newsroom to have!

What advice do you have for someone considering Medill?

Medill offers so many opportunities to learn and grow as a person and reporter! If you decide to go to Medill, definitely take advantage of all it has to offer.