Spotlight on the Fellows: Marlena Chertock

Marlena Chertock (right) reports in Tuscon, Arizona. Photo by: Jim Tuttle

Name: Marlena Chertock

School: University of Maryland, graduated in December 2013

Style of reporting: I am most fulfilled when writing feature stories, producing radio pieces and designing interactive graphics and data visualizations.

Previous internship or work experience: I have previously worked as an editorial intern at Education Week Teacher, a social media intern at USA TODAY, a news intern at WTOP, an MDDC Reese Cleghorn reporting intern at The Gazette, an editorial intern at Electrical Contractor Magazine, and an editorial intern at the International Women’s Media Foundation. I also served as editor-in-chief of The Writers’ Bloc, a literary-focused newspaper I helped to create on campus.

Favorite reporting experience: On June 26, 2013 I worked as a mobile reporter for USA TODAY, covering reactions to DOMA and Proposition 8 outside of the Supreme Court. It was incredible to report on the people outside the Court, some who traveled for several hours by car or plane to be in D.C. when the gay marriage decision was announced.

Connect with me: @mchertock

Website: marlenachertock.com

Favorite app: Snapchat—for life’s fast, funny moments.