Published Work
My published work at Northwestern includes the writing and editing I have contributed for the North by Northwestern student magazine, a long-form feature piece I wrote as a freelance assignment for the publication Planet Forward and several analytical essays I wrote for the Northwestern Undergraduate Law Journal.
HUD ruling against Chicago seeks to halt decades-long trend of environmental racism on city’s South, West sides
This article was the culmination of weeks of reporting and writing I completed for the website Planet Forward in the Fall of 2022. I was given the opportunity in an Environmental Reporting class to visit various polluting facilities across Chicago as well as a handful of environmental activist groups fighting environmental racism across the city's South and West sides. I was able to speak to individuals representing these settings and synthesize their accounts with statistics about Chicago's history of pollution, as well as perspectives I collected in interviews from local government officials, non-profit leaders and citizens of Chicago.
North by Northwestern Magazine
Writing
ABOUT TIME FOR TIMELYCARE | The therapy app supplements Northwestern's mental health service
This was an article I wrote for North by Northwestern as a freelance writer, and it taught me a lot about adjusting to a different newsroom dynamic and publication style. I learned some of the in's and out's of magazine writing and I was also guided through a more thorough editing and fact-checking process. More rounds of editing meant that the piece did not end up with the exact tone and inclusion of dissenting opinions that I had hoped for — perhaps another plot on the learning curve of starting fresh with a new publication style and staff. Still, I enjoyed crafting the story and I'm proud of how it turned out.
LACED UP | Running a business is no small feet
This was a short article I wrote for the Fall 2022 North by Northwestern issue about a Northwestern student's lucrative shoe business. I enjoyed the interview process for this story — I sat down and spoke with Vincent for over an hour about every detail, story, motivation and implication behind his business. I felt like I truly got to know Vincent, which allowed for more personalized and illuminating writing. I'm glad that I was able to cover a unique story about self-guided success and I learned a lot about diving deep during interviews to build an accurate profile.
Editing
Editing has been my main role on the North by Northwestern staff. I have served as both an Assistant and a Senior Features Editor, tasked with reviewing the longest and most in-depth stories in our publication for writing and design. In my time as an editor, I've directly developed my teamwork, developmental editing and analytical skills, helping writers with everything from AP Style corrections to broad shifts in angle, tone or structure. I am a good copyeditor, but I excel most in broad, developmental edits, primarily in the beginning stages of story construction. Below are some stories I have edited for North by Northwestern over the last three quarters.
BECOMING BOO | A look inside the life of Northwestern's premier hooper
Photos by Eloise Apple
Photos by Tyler Keim
CONSCIOUS CONSUMERISM | Northwestern students seek sustainable styles
Photos by Eloise Apple
GET INKED! | Students tell the stories behind their tattoos
Photos by Eloise Apple and Hope Cartwright
Northwestern Undergraduate Law Journal
The Structure of American Courts and its Consequences for Individual Litigants
This is a piece I wrote for the Northwestern Undergraduate Law Journal in the Fall of 2022, which focuses primarily on the "civil justice funnel" in the American judicial system and the generally unequal conditions faced by individual litigants. I really enjoyed writing this type of article as it aligns closely with the work I do and the topics I cover in my political science classes; I love writing about law and its practical applications, and I hope I can find a career path that allows me to continue to do so.
The Legality of Humanitarian Intervention
I wrote this piece in January 2023 for the Journal, focusing on issues of humanitarian intervention and the broader, ambiguous nature of international law. I have taken many international relations classes in my studies at Northwestern, and I'm fascinated by how law is created, maintained and broken in a system devoid of true enforcement. I was able to explore contentious topics of international law in this piece, especially stemming from contradictions in the UN Charter and other institutions and norms upholding the current neoliberal international framework. I think that at least some understanding of international relations and foreign policy is crucial for any job involving research, journalism or legal work, and I'm glad I've had the opportunity to explore such topics.