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Reporting Across Alaska: Lizzy Hahn

From reporting for the Sun Star to interning at the Anchorage Daily News, Lizzy Hahn made the most of every opportunity to build her journalism skills at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Along the way, she developed experience in reporting, audio and video production while discovering the value of balancing academic success with community, adventure and new experiences. In the Q&A below, Hahn reflects on the people and opportunities that shaped her journey.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am Lizzy Hahn, and I'm a science and environmental journalism major, and I'm minoring in German and foreign languages. A fun fact is that I'm from Nome, Alaska.

What brought you to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, and what made you decide that it was the right place for you?

I chose to attend ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ not only because of the great journalism program, but also because of the close-knit campus community. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ also provided great scholarship opportunities that allowed me to earn my degree without going into debt.

In your own words, why study the liberal arts?

I think the liberal arts as a whole are incredibly important. During my time at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, I've been able to take various classes through the College of Liberal Arts, and each of them has taught me something new. The liberal arts are such a vast field. It covers everything from political science to the arts.

I was able to take pottery and metalsmithing classes, and each of them taught me something new. I learned how to be a more efficient public speaker. I also learned by hearing new perspectives in various classes, whether that was in an Alaska Native Studies class or learning about the different regions of Alaska.

The liberal arts are super, super important because they teach us a wide range of topics, as well as how to think critically about any perspective.

What has your experience in the Department of Science and Environmental Journalism been like, and what makes it special?

My experience in the Department of Science and Environmental Journalism has been one of immense growth, as well as great opportunities. Throughout my degree, I was able to learn skills like audio and video production from professors Dave Waldron and JR Ancheta. These are skills I'll be able to use professionally throughout my career. Those are super important real-world skills that I was able to learn.

I was also able to hone my reporting skills, thanks to Professors Lynne Snifka and Paula Dobbyn.

This department is super special to me because there are so many opportunities for real-world experience. Students are always encouraged to submit stories to newspapers like the Daily News-Miner, the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Sun Star and even larger Alaska publications.

Through the program, I was also fortunate to work for Alaska's largest newspaper, the Anchorage Daily News, to fulfill the professional internship requirement for my journalism degree. This internship taught me a number of real-world reporting skills, which I was then able to apply to my reporting in classes this past year.

Strengthening students' skills and helping grow the next generation of Alaska journalists is really the department's goal. I'm super thankful to the department for helping me become a reporter.

Was there a professor, mentor, or community that made a big impact on your journey? How?

I think pretty much every professor and every student I've met over the past four years has had such a positive impact on my college career. But the professor who has probably had the biggest impact on my career has been Lynne Snifka. She is the chair of the journalism department, and she's been my professor for the past four years.

Over those four years, she helped me grow as a journalist. She's seen the progression from freshman Lizzie to senior Lizzie, so I'm super, super grateful for her instruction, guidance and support over the past four years.

What’s one experience at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ that really stands out to you, and why?

Man, there are so many experiences. Maybe I'll start with the longer one. I'm the copy editor of the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Sun Star, so having this real-world, hands-on experience has been super helpful. I've been in this position for two years, so getting this experience while working on campus, getting paid and learning in a relatively low-stakes environment has been incredibly valuable. It's still important, but it's not a full-time professional job, so it's been a great place to learn. It's taught me how to be a better writer, better coworker and better editor, pretty much all of the above.

Then there have been all the fun moments sprinkled in, too. I think skiing at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ has been such a big highlight. There are so many awesome opportunities at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ for people who are interested in the outdoors. We have ski trails right on campus behind the apartments, and there's also an ice wall that's been super cool. I highly recommend it to anyone who goes to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ or is thinking about it. Go on the ice wall.

Then there are all the other activities, like Starvation Gulch and SpringFest. All of those larger campus events add a little light to the semester.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I think I would tell my younger self to really soak in every moment, enjoy every moment and take some fun classes. Don't just take the predictable classes. If you see a class that sparks your interest and think, "Oh, that could be interesting," take it. You're in college, so you might as well try something new. Take a class outside your college or outside your usual area of interest. If you're curious about a topic, go ahead and take the class. The worst thing that can happen is you'll experience something new, which isn't a bad thing.

I'd also say to prioritize balance between academics and your personal life. Don't focus solely on your grades. Work hard and do your best, but also make time to have fun and give your mind a break because that balance is so important. That's something I learned during my time at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Don't just focus on academics. Take time to go outside, go for a walk, go skiing or spend time with your friends. Learn when to put the assignment down. If it's not due right away, take a little break. Then come back to it refreshed.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ?

I just want to say a big thank you to all of my professors, family, friends and parents who have supported me over the past four years. It's been a great experience, and I'm sad that it's over. At the same time, I'm extremely grateful, thankful and excited for the future. So, thank you to everyone I've had the chance to interact with.

 

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Congratulations to Lizzy Hahn on being named the Department of Science and Environmental Journalism's 2026 Outstanding Student of the Year. Learn more about the Department of Science and Environmental Journalism and explore more Outstanding Student spotlights from across the College of Liberal Arts.