Maggie Amacher

I’m Maggie Amacher, a journalist who believes in the power of storytelling to inform and connect. When I first watched Dead Poets Society at fifteen, Robin Williams’s Mr. Keating recited Walt Whitman’s words: “The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” That question, 'What will your verse be?' has stayed with me ever since. For me, journalism is that verse: a way to contribute meaningfully to public conversation through stories that explain and inspire action.

I grew up in a small town in Ohio, always curious about the world beyond my own. During high school, as the pandemic and waves of social change unfolded, I saw how easily misinformation spread and how crucial credible reporting is. I realized that journalism isn’t just about telling stories. It’s about connecting facts to the people they affect and helping readers make sense of the world around them.

Now, as a student at Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism graduating in May 2026, I’m pursuing that mission every day. I serve as campus and local news editor for The Post, where I lead a team of reporters covering stories from university faculty unionization to fracking in state parks. My work has taught me how to navigate complexity, ask sharper questions and prioritize accuracy and empathy.

Beyond campus, I’ve deepened my experience as a Scripps in D.C. Fellow and intern with the National Press Club Journalism Institute, where I explored media trends and the challenges facing reporters today. I’m currently an editorial intern at Ohio Magazine, part of Great Lakes Publishing Company, where I write and fact-check stories about the people, history and culture that define the state.

I see journalism as a public service and an act of curiosity. Whether reporting on national policy or a local community issue, my goal is to bring clarity and context to complex stories. Each piece I write is a small contribution to the “powerful play” Whitman imagined: journalism that helps people understand their world and see their place within it.