The Future Of Journalism: Yamiche Alcindor Is Giving A Voice To The Voiceless

As a reporter at The New York Times, Yamiche Alcindor is shedding light on stories we may not always hear, but that are integral to the fabric of our nation.

Here are four things you need to know about the budding journalist.

RESUME

After stints at Newsday and USA Today, Alcindor joined The New York Times to help shape its political news coverage.

“I wanted to become a journalist because I heard the name Emmett Till in a song by Kanye West. I Googled Till and realized that civil rights journalists were so important to the Civil Rights Movement,” she said.

“It’s satisfying to have readers say, “Hey, you’re sharing my perspective. I appreciate you.”

PURPOSE

“I wrote a story last year about Black kids who were affected by police shootings. What was satisfying about that story and a lot of stories I write is that I feel as though I’m giving people a look into spaces that they might not normally have gone into,” Alcindor told ESSENCE.

“I benefited greatly from having mentors, like Athelia Knight, who was friends with Gwen Ifill and who worked at The Washington Post.”

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HERITAGE

“I was born in Miami. My family is originally from Haiti — my mom is from a place called Saint-Louis-du-Nord, and my dad is from Plaisance, which is another village. I grew up in this home that was very much about learning the history of Haiti, and eating the food and speaking the language of Haiti. I think it really shaped and centered who I was in a way.”

PHILOSOPHY

“You want a newsroom that reflects different viewpoints. I think of Ferguson, Missouri, and the African-American journalists who could get access to areas that maybe other people couldn’t. I don’t think Black journalists there did a better job than White journalists, but I think we did a different job.”

This feature originally appeared in the March 2017 Issue of ESSENCE Magazine.