Bucket List Apprentices: Where Are They Now?

As we welcome new journalists to our Bucket List Community News team this month, we want to share with you what makes us a one-of-a-kind publication. Our apprentices! 

Besides our primary mission of serving our community with free, hyperlocal neighborly news, we have pioneered an apprenticeship model that allows the next generation of journalists and journalism entrepreneurs to hone their skills before continuing on their career paths. Our innovative approach has captured the attention of the local and national journalism ecosystems that recognize the college-to-career pipeline needs attention and that there also needs to be more equity in our newsrooms. 

We were inspired when we learned that our former multimedia journalist Jackie Ramirez just became the bilingual editor of Colorado Community Media’s newsletter La Cuidad. Former multimedia journalist, engagement manager and podcast host London Lyle is excelling as a freelance reporter for Colorado Community Media, La Cuidad and the Sopris Sun. And Olivia Gryson, multimedia journalist and video producer for Bucket List, credits her time as an apprentice with accelerating her career trajectory and helping her get her video media coordinator job with Sports Girls Club.

My time at Bucket List gave me more knowledge about the field than I ever could have asked for.  I have learned so much that I am so excited to carry into the working world.  Being able to take real, productive, and timely feedback and apply it to my work was essential to my learning experience.  I have gained so much confidence in my ability as a journalist thanks to Bucket List.  

Here is what others who have passed through our program have to say about how Bucket List helped them take their next steps. Marin Fallon was one of our first apprentices. She hails from CU Boulder and today she is a junior media strategist for Arnold Worldwide, a global advertising agency in New York.  

Bucket List played a key role in helping me secure a job after graduation by providing real-world experience. The engagement skills I developed there have been crucial in my current role, which also focuses heavily on consumer engagement—something I learned a lot about at Bucket List.  When interviewing for my current job, my employers were particularly interested in the work I did at Bucket List and how it shaped my skill set.

Noah Anderson came to us from CU Boulder as a multimedia journalist and podcast host. He took his skills to KREX TV in Grand Junction and today he is an anchor/reporter.    

The time I spent at Bucket List was CRUCIAL to my development as a journalist and storyteller. Not to mention, securing my current job at KREX. Most of the written pieces and clips I showcased in job applications came from my work at Bucket List. Bucket List pushed me out into the community to find and tell important local stories, which I think massively benefitted me in finding my current job.

Daianee Galindo came on board while attending MSU Denver. She is now our senior bilingual journalist, reporting in both English and Spanish, all while raising a child.   

Our articles aren’t just ordinary pieces, but thoughtful stories about the community that our team puts a lot of effort into, which have won awards this year. Through my internship and apprenticeship, I’ve gained valuable experience and significantly strengthened my writing skills. It is a great opportunity for anyone starting their journalism career.  We need more journalists to tell the stories of all communities.  

Ryland Scholes is our senior multimedia journalist and our podcast host. He also is a beat reporter for CU Boulder’s Ralphie Report and travels the country reporting from bowl games and March Madness.    

Breaking into the journalism industry is incredibly difficult, especially in big markets like Denver. Providing young journalists with an outlet to get their work out there and published is so valuable to journalists coming out of school, which is what Bucket List provides. The paid apprentice program is also a great way to freelance and make extra money. There is a reason why I have stayed with Bucket List for 13 months and have not left.

Mabel Gonzalez, who joined us from MSU Denver, pushed through her dyslexia to become a highly productive storyteller. She is currently pursuing her Masters degree at one of the country’s most prestigious graduate programs, Arizona State University’s Cronkite School.   

It was very valuable being able to get real-world skills and the feeling of a real-world newsroom. It means so much and has helped both in my education and also my job hunt. 

We will return to our regularly scheduled stories next week but this week as we kick off the year, we wanted you to know how Bucket List Community News is driving the conversation in Colorado and the country when it comes to skills-based apprenticeships. Your contributions help us sustain our program so that our college journalists become community journalists. Thanks for all you do to support Bucket List!