Love Letter to Correspondents from Cristi

Dear Correspondents,

My name is Cristi Hegranes. I am the founder of The Press Institute for Women in the Developing World, an organization that trains intelligent, brave, talented women just like you to be journalists in their home communities! It will be my honor to work with WorldPulse and each of you over the next few months.

I became a journalist more than a decade ago because I believe that journalism is an empowering profession. In no other line of work does an individual have the ability to ask bold questions, seek hard truths, and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Only a journalist can seek to highlight injustice, provoke change, inspire community and provide access to information so that people everywhere can live freer, fuller lives. In short, journalists change the world everyday.

Throughout the course of my career, I have been fortunate to work as a journalist in New York, San Francisco, Mexico, Nepal and even Rwanda for a short time. In my journeys as a reporter I met many amazing and inspiring people who gave me the great honor of telling their stories and using those stories to shine light on serious issues that impact women throughout the world. In my reporting pursuits, I soon learned that journalism offers human beings a unique point of connection – I was helping people by telling their stories, seeking change on their behalf and uplifting entire communities by sharing their successes and hardships with the world. In turn, these same people were empowering me; making me stronger, braver, and better at my job!

As each of you begins your journey into the amazing world of journalism, please know that I am here to help in anyway I can. I look forward to every opportunity we will have to discuss the principles and the practice of journalism. I look forward to learning about each one of you and reading the wonderful work you will produce.

Sincerely,

Cristi Hegranes