She began her journalism career in elementary school, as a weekly columnist for East County’s The Daily Californian. She also previously worked at the former San Diego Daily Transcript, the San Diego Ranch Coast Newspaper Group and the San Diego bureau of the Associated Press. She’s been a member of the San Diego SPJ chapter since 2001 and edited its SPJ Journal printed newsletter from 2002 to 2007. She graduated with a degree in television, film and new media from San Diego State University, where she also wrote for The Daily Aztec.