Edward R. Murrow award winner Tara Young is one of the few video journalists for the Alaska Dispatch.

Young has always felt a connection to working with cameras.

“I’ve always been a visual person, and cameras have been my tool of choice for creating content,” Young said.

Her ability to work and tell stories through video began to develop during her previous job.

“I was a television and DVD bonus feature editor a good 10 years before I started shooting professionally,” Young said. “Knowing how to edit, what kind of coverage is needed, and how to structure a story and sequence all helped me when I decided to start shooting.”

Young’s passion for her career is not driven by money but instead by her love for what she does.

“People do not become journalists for the pay,” Young said. “I made much more money producing branded content for Etsy, but I now can tell a much wider breadth of stories under the banner of news.”

To Young, going out to get her stories with video provides her with a special feeling.

“Shooting became a way to be out in the world, and oversee the whole production rather than just assembling pieces that other people had produced and shot,” Young said. “Being a one man band, so to speak, I get to decided what to shoot and what makes it in the final edit. It’s a very satisfying process, and a nice break from sitting in front of a computer editing full time.”

Young enjoys the aspect of her job that allows her to be social.

“My favorite part of being a VJ is meeting people,” Young said. “I love having access to all sorts of folks, and communities that I wouldn’t otherwise.”

The hunt to find a story is one of the pulls Young feels towards her job.

“You never know where your next story is going to come from,” Young said. “Over the last few days I’ve reached out to a blind classic rock organist, a custom wheelchair company, and an Alaskan folklorist. You need to make connections, and then nurture those relationships so people think of you when something extraordinary happens.”