Downtown Devil has been my home for almost two years, ever since I attended my first reporters’ meeting, anxious and unsure of myself. I was already in my third year at Cronkite and I had yet to publish anything in my name. I loved the idea of journalism, but imagining myself as one filled me with anxiety.
Since that first meeting, I’ve stuck with Downtown Devil, first as a reporter and later as an editor. It was Downtown Devil that gave me the space to grow into the reporter I am today. It’s been an honor to work alongside a group of such phenomenal journalists and even better humans. I am continuously blown away by the incredible work of my colleagues and the dedication of our executive staff.
I am also grateful to the amazing people I’ve met through my reporting. Thank you for sharing a piece of yourself with me and for letting me tell your story. I hope I did you justice.
Thank you to our loyal readers. Whether you’re a fan or a hater or a little bit of both, thanks for reading our little college rag. We’d be nothing without you.
And thank you to our present and future Downtown Devil staff. In the age of declining local news, you are a rare and essential independent voice. Downtown Phoenix is a place with great nuance and endless stories to pursue. It’s also a place experiencing rapid change, and not always for the better. May you amplify the voices of the unheard, hold the powerful accountable and always tell the truth. I cannot wait to read your excellent coverage for years to come!
Contact the reporter at mkackley@asu.edu.
Madeline is the community editor for Downtown Devil and is a senior studying at the Walter Cronkite School. She is a local freelance journalist who primarily covers politics, policing, immigration and business. In 2019, she won first place in her category in the national SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards for her reporting on deported veterans in Tijuana, Mexico with Cronkite News.
