Reporter Melissa Nightingale

Age 25

Location Wellington

Number of years as a journalist

Five. Three at the Whanganui Chronicle and two at the Herald.

The best story you’ve worked on, and why

One that resonated with me was about 24-year-old Jarred Townsend, who had terminal cancer and was rushing to tick off his bucket list. I was amazed by the members of the community who stepped up to help him with his goals after our story ran. I still occasionally see cars driving around with RIP Jarred Townsend stickers on the back, and it makes me think about the wonderful people who offered their time and money to make his last few months something special.

Most memorable event covered

I’d only just started working for the Herald in Wellington when the Kaiko¯ ura earthquake struck. That was the first time I’d been involved in the coverage of a natural event of that scale. For several weeks after the quake it felt like I lived and breathed earthquake stories.

I love journalism because

I love telling stories. I also love the impact an article can have on somebody. It doesn’t matter how many people blast you in the Facebook comments section or laugh about how journalists have no morals, seeing one person truly grateful for your work makes it worth it.

If I couldn’t be a journalist, I’d . . .

still be writing. As a child I was always writing fiction stories, and used to dream about being an author. I’d like to think that’s what I’d do if I won Lotto and only had to work for fun.