Emilie Ritter Saunders is a digital reporter for StateImpact Idaho, a new journalism initiative where NPR member stations in eight states work together to do in-depth, investigative reporting. Based in Boise, Emilie travels the state to explain how state issues and policy affect people’s lives, focusing especially on economic issues.
Being part of an trailblazing journalism initiative means becoming a media “Jill-of-all-trades.” Emilie tells her stories online. On the radio. In newsprint. And even making policy and economic stories visual through data. “I've had to learn an entirely new set of skills and ways to apply traditional storytelling on a digital platform,” she says. Which is exactly why her advice is to keep learning and to not be afraid of picking up new skills and technology. It's exactly what’s taken Emilie from internships with CBS Sunday Morning to Montana Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief (at age 23!) to NPR.