Behind the Editor’s Desk with Sierra McClain

Is there still a place for local journalism in today’s media landscape? This week, Roger welcomes the 2023 Joseph Rago Memorial Journalism Fellow, Sierra McClain. They discuss her experiences from the fellowship, the true value of on-the-ground journalism, the differences between local and national journalism, and advice for young journalists.

Sierra is the assistant editorial features editor for The Wall Street Journal, a position she secured upon completion of her Rago Fellowship. Prior to The Journal, she was a correspondent for the Capital Press, a regional newspaper covering agricultural business in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. She graduated from the University of Oregon, earning a bachelor’s in history and a master’s in journalism.