McKenna Schueler

I attended the 2025 AAN conference in Madison, Wis. One aspect that stood out to me was the genuine curiosity expressed by the attendees—including myself—who were eager to learn about the innovative approaches other journalists across the country are using to connect with their audiences. In a time when distrust in the media feels widespread and disheartening, I observed a strong determination among participants to explore innovative ways to rebuild and strengthen that trust.

From this experience, I received validation that I'm not alone in facing challenges in the media industry during these tumultuous times. Many of us are dealing with issues like limited resources and burnout. In the alternative media space, our journalism community is diverse and often stretched thin, yet we remain scrappy, passionate, and determined to overcome the challenges ahead to serve our communities.

The Shackelford Shines Stipend gave me the financial support I needed to connect with other journalists in similar roles from around the country. These journalists are also facing challenges such as burnout and limited resources, yet they continue to persevere. I believe that the opportunity to connect with others in the field, especially coming from a very small newsroom, is imperative.