Amanda Fiscina, 33

Editor for opinion platforms and strategy; project manager, nextli; and project manager, Google News Innovation Challenge, Newsday Melville, N.Y. Education: Columbia University, master of science, digital media; Fordham University, bachelor of arts, American studies and communications

What advice do you have for other young professionals in the news industry?

Take whatever newsroom role you can get to soak up everything the environment can offer. Never think any job is beneath you; there will be plenty of opportunities by being in the proximity of individuals who produce the first draft of history. If you work hard, respect the craft and share your ideas you will do well. Relatedly, you have to be constantly learning. Let your curiosity guide you, and always say yes and figure it out later. You won’t regret pushing yourself, especially technologically. Most of all, it’s not easy to keep up morale in an industry that’s evolving, where the hours can be long and thankless. That’s okay. Try to take a step back from the chaotic day-to-day to remember why you chose this. For me, what helps is a magazine cover from years back featuring various definitions about what journalism is that range from the practical, “the quality control for information,” to the existential, “the immune system of democracy,” to my favorite, “telling the truth of ourselves to ourselves.” All are reminders of why what we do is worth it.

If you could predict the next big thing in journalism, what would it be?

It will most likely be something from the past reimagined for a new era. After all, podcasts reflect radio, newsletters reflect newspapers, online video reflects television. Quality, accurate content is at the core of it all, the format and delivery are what is innovative. Adapting coverage to how and where people receive the content is key. Personally, my next big thing in journalism is my team’s project for Google News Initiative’s Innovation Challenge building a comprehensive data warehouse for our audience and advertisers. It’s a reimagined encyclopedia, hearkening back to the preinternet days when readers used to call the newspaper for help with their kid’s homework or for an answer to a trivia bet they just made with a friend. It’s another example of piggybacking on the past to deliver journalism that is meaningful and relevant today.