The Salisbury Independent has brought on board reporter Katie Redefer to help cover growth and development, the environment and significant issues confronting Delmarva.

Having graduated earlier this month from Emerson College in Boston, Redefer joins Salisbury Independent through a Report for America fellowship.

Report for America is a service organization whose mission is to place journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered communities and issues. The program covers half the journalist’s salary for a two-year fellowship with an option for a second year, and offers training and support.

The host publications seek public support to build and maintain the local reporting corps with the idea of keeping their communities better informed.

Before receiving her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Emerson, she served as the Editor-In-Chief of The Berkeley Beacon, the college’s student newspaper. Additionally, she has worked as a correspondent for the Boston Globe and staff reporter at Delaware State News in Dover. Her writing is published in The Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report and The Washington Times, via the Associated Press news wire.

“One of my main reasons for pursuing journalism has always been to serve my community,” Redefer said. “I started small as a reporter at my high school paper, and was instantly hooked.

“Now after four years of studying journalism at Emerson College, becoming editor of Emerson's student paper, and working as a city correspondent at The Boston Globe, that feeling is the same with every story I write,” she said.

“I am honored to serve as a reporter for Salisbury Independent and Report For America, because we have a shared appreciation for responsible, community-based reporting.”

“Winning approval for a RFA fellowship was one thing, but the fact we were also able to hire Katie for the position is another thing altogether,” said Publisher Darel La Prade.

“Katie is so qualified, and she is as talented as any young journalist I have encountered in my 40-plus years in the business. During her interview, she described herself as a ‘storyteller.’ And she truly is just that.

“We are confident her reporting and storytelling will take our journalism and the Salisbury Independent to an even higher level,” he said. 

This year, Report For America has placed 300 journalists in 50 states. Report for America and its global counterpart, Report for the World, are initiatives of The GroundTruth Project, a journalism nonprofit.

To learn more about Report for America, visit reportforamerica.org. To support Salisbury Independent’s journalism mission, visit baytobaynews.com/pressclub.