Maya Hodison, equity reporter for The Lawrence Times, has been named engagement director for the publication.
In this new, full-time role, Hodison will work to advance one of the most important tenets of the Times’ mission: connecting with the community, including the people we serve with our reporting as well as the people we cover.
“I have always loved finding ways to connect with and relate to people, so I’m thrilled for this new role,” Hodison said. “Being able to continue my passion for writing and storytelling here in my hometown is so special, and I’m incredibly grateful to my family, friends, mentors, community members, and Lawrence Times team members who have believed in me.”
Hodison is a lifelong Lawrencian. She recently graduated with a degree in mass media from Baker University, where she was the news editor of the Baker Orange student newspaper, the president of a multicultural diversity organization called Mungano, and a member and co-captain of the women’s soccer team.
Prior to her time at Baker, she attended Free State High School. There she was the co-editor of the Free Press student newspaper, participated in choir, and played four years on the varsity girls soccer team, receiving a Class 6A all-state first team honor her senior year.
She started writing for the Times occasionally in summer of 2021, interned with the publication during her spring 2022 semester and has been working in a part-time role as an equity reporter since she graduated in May.
“Maya has so quickly proven herself to be a brilliant reporter and a true leader,” said Mackenzie Clark, reporter and founder of the Times. “The rest of the news team and I could not be more thrilled that she has agreed to step into this new role.”
Consistent with the Times’ mission, Hodison’s primary focus will remain her reporting, focusing on issues that people in marginalized communities face and amplifying voices that are oftentimes unvalued.
Hodison especially looks forward to attending the KU School of Journalism and Mass Communications career fair this month, engaging with readers via social media, and meeting with community members to discuss better ways to serve them.
Meet with us
Today — Tuesday, Oct. 4 — is News Engagement Day. This is also National Newspaper Week (Oct. 2 through 8).
Hodison and Clark will hold virtual office hours from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6. Lawrence community members are welcome to log on to our Google Meet at this link to chat with the Times leadership.
“We want to hear from folks in this community — your thoughts, story ideas, questions, whatever’s on your mind,” Clark said. “We will likely want to make this a regular thing, if this is how our readers want us to spend our time.”
Read more of Hodison’s work for the Times at this link. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Check out her staff bio at this link.
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