Meet Our Reporters
Emma Claire Ambroziak
she/her
Emma Claire Ambroziak is a senior at Lewis & Clark College (LC), majoring in English and Hispanic studies. She has written for The Portland Mercury and The Cusp Magazine. Emma is currently the editor-in-chief of The Mossy Log, the student newspaper at LC. She aims to connect the campus community to the broader Portland metro area through storytelling. Emma believes strongly in the power of writing to enact positive change, and intends to incorporate her interests in education, environmental justice and sexual health and consent advocacy into her passion for journalism. Her creative outlets include photography, jewelry-making and nonfiction writing. She is well on her way to becoming a crazy cat lady, and spends the little free time she has with her cat, Congressman Douglas.
Ways to connect with Emma:
How serendipity expanded my world of sound
The one thing I’m glad I learned this week was how to use Adobe Audition. It was really great to get more practice taking photos, writing captions, and composing web stories — but it was so cool to get to see how this software worked. Learning how to import files and...
Nika Bartoo-Smith
she/her
Nika Bartoo-Smith is an Indigenous affairs journalist who writes for Underscore Native News + ICT (formerly Indian Country Today) based in the Pacific Northwest. Of Osage and Oneida Nations descent, with Northern European and Indonesian ancestry, Nika was born and raised in Portland. Through her journalism, Nika strives to center the voices and experiences of communities often left behind in the mainstream media. When not working on a story, Nika can often be found in the aisles of a local bookstore or sitting and beading at a coffee shop.
Ways to connect with Nika:
My Week Reporting with NPR’s Next Gen at OPB
I walked into this week a bit intimidated. I am a journalist, but up until a few days ago, I solely worked in a written and photo format. Audio felt scary, but at the same time, so exciting. I grew up listening to OPB in the car with my dad on the way to school....
Erik Daniel Schell DeVore
he/him
Erik DeVore was born in Colorado and grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where he developed a deep appreciation for stories embedded in the natural world. A formally trained and published scientist, he holds multiple degrees from Portland State University, with research spanning natural sciences, conservation management and environmental communication. Inspired by visual media’s portrayals of the relationship between climate change and humanity, he discovered a new way of seeing the world — one that drives his dedication to making complex scientific topics accessible. When he’s not storytelling, you’ll find him at film festivals, cheering on a soccer match, cycling through the city, hiking in the Columbia Gorge and traveling to experience new cultures and landscapes.
Ways to connect with Erik:
Bridging science and storytelling: From lab coats to reporter
When I started my week with NPR’s Next Generation Radio, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Coming from a science background, I felt out of my element — far from the lab, spreadsheets, and fieldwork I was used to. My family was thrilled about the opportunity, but I was...
Jordan Hernandez
she/her
Jordan Hernandez is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. Her portfolio includes work with Rolling Stone, Vogue, OPB, Oregon Humanities, The Oregonian, Travel Portland, and The Willamette Week. She is a senior copywriter at Instrument, a digital creative agency where she writes for a variety of clients. Jordan loves baking and trying new recipes, plus traveling, hunting for thrifted treasures, and lifting heavy weights at the gym. She’s always up for a scenic hike, visiting quirky themed museums and hotels, or cozying up with a great book. At any party, you’ll find her next to the cheese.
Ways to connect with Jordan:
- Jordan Hernandez on LinkedIn
- Jordan’s Email: jordan.inkandcompass@gmail.com
Thank goodness there are no age limits in public media
As a lifelong listener of NPR, even applying to this intensive felt like a deeply sacred and overwhelmingly beautiful choice for myself. There’s the whole “never meet your heroes” mentality, and I really hoped that wasn’t applicable to my emotional-support public...
Macy Moore
they/them
Macy Moore is a biochemistry and journalism student at Oregon State University. They discovered that scientific topics are not often explained with accessible language, and are interested in utilizing their background to create better science communication. Macy is currently the station manager of KBVR-FM, the student-run radio station at OSU. When DJing, Macy likes to discuss music from the 1960s and educate their listeners about music history. In their free time you’ll find Macy practicing the guitar and learning songs with their roommates.
Ways to connect with Macy:
Finding confidence for the future
It has been an incredible privilege to participate in NPR’s Next Generation Radio for the past week. Applying for this program was one of those pipe dream applications. Receiving the news that I was accepted was simultaneously the most nerve-wracking and exciting...