Meet Our Reporters
Tristan Alcorta (He/Him)
Tristan is a recent graduate of Drake University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication in digital media production and a Bachelor of Arts in rhetoric, media & social change, as well as a minor in leadership development. He was born and raised on the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to a Cuban father and Jamaican mother. Whether through video or photo, Tristan simply loves capturing the things around him, similar to how his mother did when he was growing up. Tristan also enjoys going to the beach, playing video games, watching movies, listening to music and playing the bass guitar.
Ways to connect with Tristan:
How I learned to cut myself some slack
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this program. I haven’t had many internships, so I was very nervous about how the week would go. I know that I have the skills to do the work that I did this week, but I didn’t feel confident in my abilities because of my...
Lucia Cheng (She/They)
Lucia Cheng is an Asian American multimedia journalist based in Des Moines, Iowa. Lucia is a freelancer for Iowa Public Radio covering arts, music, and culture. She previously worked as News Editor for The Scarlet & Black newspaper at Grinnell College. Lucia is also a 2022 Audio fellow as part of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) VOICES program. Under the 2022 Because of Her Story program, she worked as a reporting intern for Smithsonian Magazine, spotlighting underrepresented voices in history. Proud owner of the title “charmingly awkward” and a chaotic cat named Winona.
Ways to connect with Lucia:
The joy at the end of a sidewalk lined with hibachi grills
During the nap I took after we wrapped on Thursday, I dreamed about walking through a sidewalk lined on both sides with hibachi grills. If you’ve seen the show Beef, you understand. I held a puppy in my arms, a bruised and battered little thing that had been thrown in...
Natalie Dunlap (She/Her)
Natalie Dunlap is a senior at the University of Iowa. Her goal is to highlight untold stories of fascinating and resilient people in Iowa. She is a communications and marketing intern at the University of Iowa’s College of Education, and previously worked as a talk show intern for Iowa Public Radio. Natalie has experience in news and politics reporting at The Daily Iowan, where she will be assistant digital editor in the fall. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting while listening to pop culture podcasts.
Ways to connect with Natalie:
Jack of all trades
I was amazed by just how much different content I was able to create in the span of a week-long project. The NexGen schedule kept production moving at an impressive pace. I knew my subject had an impactful story, and the planning activities such as the storyboard and...
Colson Thayer (He/Him)
Colson Thayer is a multimedia journalism and music student at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a freelance writer for CITYVIEW magazine, writing the Business Feature story each month. He is also a communications intern at Des Moines Performing Arts for Summer 2023. In the fall, he will act as the Business & PR Director for Drake Mag, Drake University’s award-winning lifestyle magazine. He has a passion for honest and compelling storytelling that strengthens communities.
Ways to connect with Colson:
This week, I thought I was in over my head
I wouldn’t normally say I suffer from imposter syndrome, but this week I definitely did. I received an email with my denial to the program two weeks ago. I was disappointed; however, I understood why. A managing editor explained they went with someone closer to...
Hunter Vasey (He/They)
Hunter Vasey is an Iowa native and recent graduate of Buena Vista University’s digital media program. His goal is to give voice to the voiceless through digital storytelling and journalism. He was the opinions editor for BVU’s student newspaper, The Tack, and he hosted a pop culture radio show on the student station. He is a devoted fan of horror movies and true crime and hopes to one day create that kind of media.
Ways to connect with Hunter:
Learning things you thought you already knew: The NextGen Experience
When I applied to be a part of NPR’s Next Generation Radio project, I had no idea what to expect. I was familiar with audio storytelling and considered myself skilled in the area. Little did I know, halfway through the week I’d be relearning how to work Adobe...