Alumnae Spotlight

Stephanie Sierra ‘12

This year, ABC7 Bay Area News added a familiar face to their Investigation Unit team - Stephanie Sierra ‘12. Stephanie has returned to the Bay Area after stints as a reporter and anchor in Columbia, Missouri and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Stephanie’s interest in investigative journalism began when she attended a Mercy Career Day session hosted by a local reporter. Drawn to follow the data, Investigation was the emphasis of her Broadcast Journalism major at the University of Missouri.

Her reporting stems from deep curiosity - an insatiable interest in people, their stories and behaviors. Stephanie has reported on everything from local heroes and small business succeses to fraud, corruption, and sex trafficking. In her field, curiosity is not only a personality trait but an essential skill. She says, “It’s what makes you want to dig deeper. There is always going Having the emotional and personal support at such a young age and being told that you can achieve “ to be something that needs fixing. Asking, ‘Why is that this way? How can we shine a light on this?’ are keys to success in this industry.” anything has a lot to do with believing in your own success. That is what Mercy did for me. “ Curiosity is what got her into the field, but what has kept her is the unique ability to bring about real, tangible change. “There is so much power in uncovering wrongdoing, and so much you can do to uplift people’s voices and give back to the community,” she says.

Stephanie’s investigative reporting has resulted in significant local action. It prompted the Columbia Sheriff’s Department to properly enforce Megan’s Law restrictions, prohibiting sex offenders from living near schools and day care facilities. In southern Colorado, her persistence over a year-long investigation into illicit massage parlours rescued six women from human trafficking operations.

Her chosen career requires tough conversations, and Stephanie credits her roots in the Mercy Community for her strong foundation. She says, “The values of the Sisters of Mercy, lived out in Mercy High School, set a platform of support for young women to be the best versions of themselves. Early exposure to

social issues has a direct impact on your willingness to help in areas of need. Mercy taught us to always want to give back.”

Though Stephanie knows she is pursuing her calling, it is not always easy. “As a journalist you need significant resilience in the face of rejection, dishonesty, and pressure - even threats of violence. In the last few years, we [journalists] have been challenged like never before with accusations of bias and falsehoods. However, Mercy taught me to always stand by your truth and know who you are from an early age - to find that voice and use it to speak out.”

Her talent is getting recognized by the broader journalism community. Stephanie earned a national Hearst award for her reporting in MO, and her story on human trafficking won two regional Edward R Murrow awards and was recently nominated for a prestigious, national Murrow Award.

In discussing her success, Stephanie insists that it is simply a love of talking to people and her interest in what makes each individual unique. The sense of sisterhood that she first felt at Mercy expanded into a bond she feels with broader society. “Learning how to build connections helped me develop love and respect for others, which allows me to establish rapport, to adapt and learn.”

Stephanie is thrilled to be home. She feels welcomed by the deep support and special sense of belonging that comes from our community. Follow her stories with the ABC7 I-Team on Channel 7, online at abc7news.com/iteam, and on social media!