L ET TE R F R O M TH E E DI TO R
Re ad A ll About It!
eresa Fang was already a seasoned reporter by the time she applied to Chapel Hill Magazine for a summer internship last year. The first-year student at East Chapel Hill High School shared in her email that “from 2018 to 2021, I wrote articles and stories as a kid reporter for Scholastic Kids Press. I’ve covered the 2020 elections, [the] pandemic and social justice movements. I’ve talked to and interviewed a lot of amazing, talented people ... including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Nathan Chen, Christina Koch and many more, spanning from kids to voters to athletes to Nobel scientists and professors to presidential candidates. I always aim to shine a light on the stories of people, both local and far, to share to kids and young people across the country, believing it would help them reach their dreams, too.” How can you say no to that kind of passion? It was a delight to have Teresa in the office this past summer, as she asked such great questions and soaked up knowledge. I relish working alongside interns and then knowing they leave us as better writers and editors, no matter where their career paths take them. (Humble brag time – some have gone on to intern or work at publications across the country including Real Simple, Garden & Gun, The New York Times, Washingtonian and The Local Palate.) This winter, when it came time to assign a story about a seventh grader participating in the Scholastic Kids Press program, I knew just the reporter for the job! Now a sophomore, Teresa came ready with a list of questions and her recorder, and she made her subject, Max Chen, feel at ease. She turned around the story for our Kids Issue in record time and, like always, was a joy to work with. I encourage you to reach out and share your stories of young people in our community – from local budding entrepreneurs and volunteers to gifted musicians and athletes – so writers like Teresa can tackle stories for next year’s Kids Issue. (And Max, keep on gaining great experience – we’ll be here if you ever need an internship!) CHM
If Teresa doesn’t pursue journalism, she’s certainly got a fallback plan as an artist! That’s Executive Managing Editor Amanda MacLaren, myself and my dog, Olive, on her handillustrated thankyou card.
jessica.stringer@chapelhillmagazine.com O N TH E COV E R P h o to by J o h n Mi c h a e l S i m p s o n 6
chapelhillmagazine.com
January/February 2023