From AU to the White House: Camila DeChalus鈥 Journey to Political Journalism
Camila DeChalus, ,听has built a career as a political听reporter driven by a deep commitment to uncovering the truth behind political events that shape our lives and communicating them through impactful storytelling. With roles including Political Reporter for The Washington Post, Senior D.C. Politics Reporter for Business Insider, and News Associate at CNN, DeChalus has built an impressive track record. Her journey to becoming a prominent voice in the coverage od national politics听is an ode to the power of hard work, diverse experiences, and a commitment to the facts.听
As a White House reporter, DeChalus tackles the constant influx of information by stepping back to assess which stories need to be told. 鈥淭here is so much going on all the time,鈥 she said. With this responsibility comes the need for thoroughness and accuracy. 鈥淚鈥檓 always fact-checking my information and talking to as many different people as possible to get a better sense of what is going on.鈥澨鼿er approach to reporting is grounded in the belief that understanding multiple perspectives is essential to delivering thorough,听comprehensive stories.听
She believes that versatility is one of the most crucial skills for success in political journalism. 鈥淏eing able to adapt to different environments and learn new things is really important,鈥 she said. The ever-evolving nature of the field of journalism requires reporters to听find innovative ways to connect with their audiences.听
Her interest in journalism was sparked by a natural curiosity. 鈥淚鈥檝e always loved storytelling and learning about different ideas,鈥 she said. But it was at SOC that she could see how听her passion could be her听profession. 鈥淚 took several broadcast journalism classes that solidified my decision to pursue this career,鈥 DeChalus explained. The听location of AU in the nation鈥檚 capital played a key role in her growth. 鈥淚 also took advantage of being in DC and secured a lot of internships that gave me real-world experience in the journalism industry,鈥 she said. These hands-on opportunities not only enhanced her skills but also gave her a deeper understanding of the political landscape.听
SOC provided not only the academic foundation but also the opportunities to grow as a reporter and storyteller.听AU fellowship听with听the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting听helped DeChalus refine her interview and multimedia skills. 鈥淭hey helped me shape a better understanding of the kind of journalist I wanted to be,鈥 she reflected.听
DeChalus emphasized听the importance of diversity in political journalism. 鈥淗aving a wide array of diverse perspectives is really important.鈥澨
Today, DeChalus uses her platform to shed light on the issues that matter most, and looks for untold or overlooked narratives.听As she considers听her path听from AU to the White House, Camila encourages young journalists to embrace the power of diversity and to always remain curious. 鈥淣ever stop learning,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd make sure that the stories you tell are the ones that need to be told.鈥澨