Colleen Shalby is a graduate of GW's American Studies department. She now works at the Los Angeles Times as a reporter. We reached out to Colleen to feature her in our weekly alumni spotlight. Read what she has to say.
How has American Studies informed your work in journalism?
I’m a big believer in the power of context and observation – elements I learned to appreciate as an American Studies major. As I cover a specific event, I often think about the backstory and the future impact. The way in which I process information and the questions I ask while reporting are directly linked to the fact that I spent formative years studying American history through a cultural lens.
What made you decide to pursue journalism after GW?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was seven. At some point along the way, my love for writing short stories about dogs morphed into a journalism dream that was nurtured at GW, while minoring in journalism and writing occasionally for The Hatchet.
An internship during my final semester with the GW Global Media Institute introduced me to some formidable minds in journalism that further inspired me. It was that experience that helped me land my first internship after graduation at NPR. After that, I freelanced for a bit until I finally landed a job at PBS NewsHour, where I witnessed Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill make history as the first female anchor team. A few years after that, I made it back to Los Angeles for a role at my hometown paper – the Los Angeles Times.
Journalism has remained my lifelong passion.
Were there any AMST classes that helped to inform your career decision?
There were several AMST classes I took from freshman year onwards that cemented the fact that I wanted to capture history as it happened. Some standouts that come to mind include a class about the media’s portrayal of veterans throughout history, another on cultural analysis and a class my senior year that prompted me to spend considerable time at the Library of Congress digging through archives on the hippie movement of the 1960s.
What has been your favorite assignment at the LA Times so far?
Covering President Obama’s visit to Los Angeles in 2016 and the Women’s March at a snowy Sundance Festival in 2018 are definitely at the top of my list. But I think my favorite assignment so far might be from this past October when I covered the fires in Northern California. I met evacuees who remained steadfastly resilient under such uncertainty, and saw compassion at all levels, among those who had been evacuated and those volunteering to help. It was an incredible display of humanity to witness.
Where do you see yourself going next in your career?
I’m currently in a position that allows me to cover stories throughout California pertaining to various topics. In the future, I think I’d like to narrow my focus and take on a role within a more specific beat.
What is the best career advice you've ever received? What advice would you give AMST students today?
Do not ever doubt your ability. I’ve been fortunate to have garnered this advice throughout my career from some incredible mentors and friends.
To any student in the pursuit of a dream, I’d tell you that you know better than anyone what you’re capable of accomplishing. Any career has its difficulties and those moments may dissuade you at times, or even force you to question your ability. Breaking into a career after graduation can be daunting and you may not initially be exactly where you’d like. But give into the zig-zags – those experiences make you stronger – and keep pushing forward. You’ll get there.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
My colleagues and I spent much of the past year unionizing and negotiating a contract with management for the first time in Los Angeles Times history in a mission to protect our newsroom and safeguard its future. In a way, those efforts were a secondary job that I did not envision when I first stepped into journalism.
To be a journalist now is not just to think about the stories you want to tell, but to also take on a role in a changing industry that ideally is becoming more inclusive and representative of the communities we strive to serve. It can be tough, but it is also inspiring.