Free Press reporter, Voice alum talks to students about journalism industry

by WilloW SymondS Staff Writer

Chanel Stitt works as a Business Reporter for the Detroit Free Press, but her first step into journalism was here at The Washtenaw Voice.

While attending WTMC, WCC’s on campus high school, she worked as a contributor and then a staff writer, winning an award for her feature story about the success of a reading-to-barbers program.

However, according to Stitt, quite a few things have changed since her graduation in 2017.

The most noticeable difference is the newsroom itself, having moved location to the Student Center almost two years ago. Stitt admired the new room for the first time on Friday, Feb. 17 – especially her Michigan Community College Press Association award hanging on the wall – before giving a talk to the current Voice team.

When speaking to current members, she noted another change: how the digital age impacts journalists. Six years ago, Stitt and her fellow Voice colleagues focused on traditional reporting through writing and photos, with the website being their only tech-