Meet Lynn Walsh | Freelance Journalist & Media Trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lynn Walsh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lynn, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Taking the time to discover what I value about journalism and sticking to those values has helped me be successful. Knowing those values and reminding myself of those values has also helped me decide which jobs to pursue, which jobs to apply for and which jobs to accept. It’s also helped me create a brand that is trusted and respected within the industry. There will always be a shiny new thing in whatever industry you are in. It’s OK to chase that, but if you are always chasing what’s new, you’ll never be able to develop a niche or commit to really understanding a specific element of your industry, potentially missing out on becoming a respected expert in your field.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was always enthralled with breaking news growing up — Columbine, the O.J. Simpson trial. My parents couldn’t keep me from watching it. I also remember being in bed growing up … my parents still watching TV shows and reading downstairs, and I would hear the sound of the NBC breaking news music. I wouldn’t go downstairs, but I would try so hard to listen. There’s something about that music, even now to this day, that makes me anxious, yet it’s also comforting like I know something tragic is probably taking place but also I feel like I’m in good hands and will be kept informed.

There was also one story I wrote about in high school that helped me make my mind up about pursuing a career in journalism: A school fall sports pep rally is canceled because the football coach didn’t want the team distracted. Other fall sports players spoke to me and said it wasn’t fair. It started a conversation, and the pep rally was rescheduled.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I absolutely love being outside, so most of what I would put on the itinerary would be centered around walking or biking and involve stops for drinks and bites along the way. My two favorite places to take visitors for (in my opinion) the best views in San Diego while walking: Sunset Cliffs and Torrey Pines. After Sunset Cliffs you can stop by my favorite taco spot which is South Beach in Ocean Beach. After Torrey Pines I would definitely recommend a trip to see the Sea Lions in La Jolla Cove and if they are up for it some snorkeling there too. Throughout the week I would also lead them on bike rides around both Mission Bay and San Diego Bay (starting in Coronado and riding down to Imperial Beach.) A must-stop for me on the Mission Bay loop is Royal Rooster (they have one of my favorite veggie California burritos). Kayaking and paddleboarding would also be on the list throughout the week (Coronado Bridge, LaJolla or Mission Bay are my favorites). Another must-do on my list is a bike ride from Ocean Beach to the Embarcadero. A must-stop on that trip is Ketch at Portside Pier with a detour to Shelter Island. A beach bonfire is also a must, along with a walk on the Ocean Beach municipal pier. If they are visiting for a week, a trip across the border to Tijuana and possibly Valle Guadalupe would be great to fit in. A week trip to San Diego also allows for time to visit Palm Springs and one of my favorite National Parks: Joshua Tree. A couple of other fun excursions I would recommend the Seven Bridges Hike (it allows you to explore Balboa Park and several San Diego neighborhoods), Annie’s Canyon and Cabrillo National Monument.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many individual people who have helped me become the journalist and teacher I am today. Most of these people have been brought into my life as colleagues or journalism organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists, Investigative Editors and Reporters and the Radio Television and Digital News Association. I became involved in all three of these organizations early on in my career and it is one of the best decisions I made.

Website: https://trustingnews.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnkwalsh/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnkwalsh/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lwalsh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynnWalshJournalist/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCajCDdw1LFycX_-dw9t_ODA