In 2014, while earning my journalism degree at Bowling Green State University, I sat in on a lecture from John Quiñones, host of the TV show, What Would You Do?
During his lecture to journalism students, he offered a piece of advice that has stayed with me ever since: “Good stories seek the moved and shaken, not just the movers and shakers. That’s how you shine light in the dark.”
Those words have guided my reporting ever since. They’ve shaped the way I approach interviews, the questions I ask, and the stories I pursue. That’s what has ultimately led me to the role of Community Vibrancy Reporter at Cincinnati CityBeat.
Good journalism isn’t about amplifying the loudest voices in the room; it’s about illuminating the voices that might otherwise go unheard. I believe strong local journalism can unite communities by providing not just reaction, but context and clarity.
As Community Vibrancy reporter, I plan to dig deep and to understand neighborhoods’ stories; I want to understand before writing. It’s not my job to solve Cincinnati’s challenges, but it is my responsibility to help bring them to light.
That’s work I’ve been doing since the beginning of my career.
Since my first newspaper job in Nevada, Missouri and as an award-winning digital reporter in Mansfield, Ohio, I’ve covered stories at the intersection of crime, arts and culture, education and government.
When I moved to Cincinnati at the start of the pandemic, I wasn’t sure there was still a place for me in journalism, but instead of stepping away from storytelling, I shifted. I founded NoJo Creative, a podcasting company where I worked with clients to produce, edit and host podcast shows. That included Brutally Informed, one of the first weekly news podcasts for Audible, and working with LINK nky, now owners of this publication.
Even outside traditional newsrooms, my focus has remained the same: telling the community’s stories.
While living in Cincinnati, I’ve also worked with several nonprofits, most recently as the social media guy at La Soupe, an organization reducing food waste while feeding neighbors facing food insecurity. That experience deepened my understanding of the city — not just its challenges, but the people actively working to solve them.
All of it has brought me here.
I love Cincinnati and its communities. I’m eager to tell the stories that make them vibrant. If you know of a story that deserves light, I’d love to hear from you; shoot me an email at NJones@citybeat.com.