Maggie Girardi

Hi, I'm Maggie Girardi—a journalist driven by a belief that journalism should do more than simply inform. Journalists, like myself, should ask hard-hitting questions, challenge the status quo, and center voices of those too often overlooked.  

Whether I'm reporting on a local election,  systemic injustice, or a community driving change, I aim to position my work at the intersection of politics and everyday life. 

I'm especially interested in how storytelling can support public understanding and drive policy change. I'm always looking for opportunities to learn, question, and make an impact—even on a small scale.

I found my footing as a journalist in small-town Missouri, reporting on city council meetings and community issues while balancing a full course load. That experience grounded me—and fueled my ambition to keep learning, questioning, and reporting with purpose.

• Summa Cum Laude, University of Missouri 
• First intern at Newslaundry to publish a story behind a paywall  
• Missouri Press Association, First Place — Business Reporting (2024)
  

A note on my experience in India

During my time in India, I worked with a small, independent media platform. Though my role was humble—lacking oversight and guidance—I committed myself to the challenges it brought.

The newsroom was one of many struggling in the face of political pressure. It was a drab office with squeaky ceiling fans, sustained by a team of passionate journalists unafraid to speak truth to power. Much of my work involved researching Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government ahead of the high-stakes general election, just weeks away. Tension was in the air as a third Modi term promised further constraints on India’s already threatened press.

Yet, being in a newsroom of young and determined thinkers, it aroused a glowing sense of hope. Whatever it was, it certainly moved me.

— Frederick Douglass