Joy Borkholder joins the Herald team to lead our Health Reporting Initiative
Published 1:30 am Sunday, November 20, 2022
The Daily Herald has a new health reporter, and it’s because of our community.
Joy Borkholder joined the news team Nov. 10 to cover health and wellness through our new Health Reporting Initiative.
This community-funded journalism project grew out of a need we heard from readers and leaders for more health and wellness stories – and it’s made possible in part through a sponsorship from Premera Blue Cross, a not-for-profit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association based in Mountlake Terrace.
Joy started her career at the Herald with a collection of information about what’s important to the community we serve. That includes the emails we received when we asked what you’d like to learn from our coverage through the Health Reporting Initiative, the top concerns we heard through a listening survey and community conversations we conducted earlier this year. As Joy begins to spotlight the most pressing health and wellness issues facing Snohomish and Island counties and what’s being done to address those challenges, our community will continue to play a role. If you have a topic you would like explored or a story to share, reach out to Joy at joy.borkholder@heraldnet.com. If you are interested in supporting the Health Reporting Initiative through a sponsorship or grant, contact me at brenda.harrison@heraldnet.com.
More about Joy
A native of suburban Chicago, Joy has a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Cedarville University in Ohio, a master of social work from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Virginia. Most recently, she has written for several news outlets in the Puget Sound area, and she has several years of experience as a researcher and data analyst. You can check out Joy’s stories for the health reporting initiative at heraldnet.com/author/joy-borkholder.
In case you missed it
The Daily Herald’s inaugural event, Behind the News Stories, premiered Nov. 10 on stage at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. We introduced Joy to the audience and gave everyone a chance to answer a question about the Health Reporting Initiative that was on display in the lobby. The main purpose for the event, however, was to provide a behind-the-scenes look at community journalism. We showcased some of the most profound stories from this year and highlighted the powerful impact of local reporting.
In an email to the Herald, one guest said this about the event: “It put faces to The Herald ‘family’ and emphasized even more for me the importance of our local newspaper. … I have an even greater appreciation for the dedication and integrity of staff and care you all have for our community.”
If you were unable to be in the audience for Behind the News Stories, keep reading the Herald for information about how you can get a glimpse of the stories we shared that night.
It’s always the season for gratitude
Thanksgiving is this week and it’s typically an easy time to say thanks, but I hope you hear words of appreciation from The Daily Herald no matter what season we’re in. We couldn’t be your local community newspaper without you. We are grateful to everyone who shares their stories with our reporters, those who support us with a subscription and tell others about the important work we do, and the many individuals, businesses, and organizations that give to our community- funding journalism initiatives. Now more than ever, you make a difference in what local journalism can do. Thank you.
Brenda Mann Harrison is the journalism development director for The Daily Herald. To learn more about the impact of local news and how you can join others in supporting community journalism, go to cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/local-news-impact, send an email to brenda.harrison@heraldnet.com or call 425-339-3452. The Daily Herald maintains editorial control over content produced through community-funded initiatives.
