Illustration by Ellen Nordlund
Ask A Journalist is apart of our Ask A Professional series where we ask real adults about their profession.
Rae Paoletta is the Senior News and Identity Reporter for Revelist, a site for millennial women. She’s a feminist, space aficionada and cat mom.
Where have you been published?
I’ve been published on MTV News, Revelist, and most recently on my side project, a blog called Winey. It’s where I rant about delicious wine that fits a Millennial budget.
Did you always know you wanted to be a journalist?
I knew I wanted to be a storyteller before anything else; as a child, I told all sorts of tall tales, and at some point I got it in my head to write them down.
But watching Katie Couric on the Today Show made me want to be a journalist. I grew up watching a ton of TV news, and I became determined to make it in the industry — not knowing what that meant, of course.
In college, I had some incredible jobs and internships at NBC News (though Katie had long left), but ultimately I wasn’t in love with the pace of broadcast. I dove into the digital world and never looked back.
Can you recall the toughest moment in your journalism career?
When I first started as a writer at MTV News, I was covering a lot of viral content that I didn’t feel passionate about. I was also terrible at interviews, which is ironic considering I’m literally doing one right now.
Best moment?
After I wrote an article about Muslim American activist Ziad Ahmed, who was mistakenly put on the TSA watchlist as a child, I got a call from the White House.
They wanted to invite him to an Iftar dinner as recognition for founding his own anti-bias organization, Redefy. I was so happy that someone so deserving was able to fulfill his dreams. Looking at the pictures of Ziad shaking President Obama’s hand made me cry.
Were your friends and family supportive of your choice to pursue journalism?
They didn’t really have a choice, and they knew it! My family knows that when I put my mind to something, I will pursue it wholeheartedly, bordering on quixotically. Even as a kid, I was always writing poems, short stories and eventually articles, so I don’t think anyone is surprised that I ended up working for the internet.
Did you major in journalism? Would you advise others to major in it?
I was a history major (and proud)! It’s important for journalists to become experts in something, and I largely attribute my career to my unapologetic love of history. I don’t think journalism is something you can be “taught” in a class — I think it’s about tapping into an innate instinct and being the most indefatigable (and caffeinated) person you can be.
How do you set yourself apart from other journalist cause it’s a competitive field?
I joke that 99% of my body is comprised of the internet — the rest is just a slack of flesh. I’m an avid news and culture consumer, and I keep my finger on the pulse of the news. I think that reflects a lot in my writing, because I tend to enter social justice issues through the lens of pop culture.
Bless memes, I cannot wait until they enter the history classes of tomorrow.
Is it a good time right now to be a journalist?
If you want to be a journalist, now is the time to step up and dedicate yourself. We are entering an incredibly volatile time in our nation’s history, and we need dedicated watchdogs who are going to hold people in power accountable for their actions.
How do you remain financially stable in a career that is oversaturated?
I’m extremely lucky to be in a position where I’m a staff writer at a company that gives me benefits. It’s a first in my career, since I didn’t get health insurance at my previous job.
Do you stay unbiased on subjects where you have a strong opinion?
I’m a socialist feminist and that largely informs my writing. I agree with Matt Taibbi, who once argued that “all journalism is advocacy journalism.” There are no “unbiased” journalists, though I’m sure our future robot overlords will change that.
How has technology affected journalism?
Technology has made journalism so much more accessible, exciting, and at times, maddening. It’s incredible that a person can get thousands of articles a minute on their twitter feed, and kind of sad when that person, who is me, won’t just shut their phone off and go to sleep.
Where do you see journalism heading in the next 5-10 years?
Writers will push new boundaries of what constitutes “an article” and incorporate elements of video and social media platforms that don’t exist yet. The world depends on the next generation of journalists; their work must be nothing short of revolutionary.
Share your favorite article you have ever wrote
Recently, I spent a month talking to women who survived cults. They were the bravest people I ever interviewed. Check it out here
Any advice for young journalist?
Read as much as you write, and don’t take anyone’s sh*t.
