New Faces, New Stories: How Do You Do?
Author: Eliza McLaughlin, MT43 News Correspondent
.Many of us spend our entire lives searching for a purpose, chasing various passions and ultimately choosing a career that we hope will keep us excited, and employed, for the rest of our lives. I have been fortunate enough to identify and fulfill my passion as a writer and journalist early on in life.
I am excited to continue pursuing that passion with the MT 43 News team and you, the residents of Broadwater County.
Montana has, and always will be, the best place for me. I was born and raised only 55 miles down US Highway 287 and Interstate 90 in Belgrade. My family and I spent many weekends hiking, fishing and camping in the Big Sky area as well as traveling around the beautiful state we all call home. Several of our adventures brought us to Broadwater County, including camping on Canyon Ferry and stopping by Goose Bay Hand Blown Glass on a Sunday afternoon.
Not once did it cross my mind that a decade later I would find myself planting roots in that area.
But here I am.
Until recently, becoming a reporter was not included in my meticulously detailed five-year plan. However, after graduating from Brigham Young University-Idaho in December of 2021 with a degree in public policy and administration, I made the decision to reach out to several newspapers in southwestern Montana and pursue writing.
Those papers included the Three Forks Voice, the Broadwater Reporter, the Silver State Post and the Boulder Monitor. Aside from the Broadwater Reporter, I have now had the opportunity to work for each of these news sources.
My journalism career began in January of this year when Jack Smith, the owner of the Three Forks Voice and former editor of the Silver State Post, took a chance on a hopeful writer and hired me as a freelance reporter for both papers.
Four months later, the Boulder Monitor hired me as a part-time staff reporter dedicated to covering towns in North Jefferson County.
Since then I have spoken to and told the stories of incredible local characters, including Sherry Zipperian, a former Broadwater County deputy sheriff and recently published author of “Map of Bones.”
As I settle into my new role at MT 43 News, I hope to get the opportunity to share many of your stories.
I look forward to getting to know each of you and sharing your stories. Please feel free to stop me and introduce yourselves as we pass on the street.
You can also reach me at eliza@mt43News.com.
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PhotoCredit: Eliza McLaughlin
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