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As a systemic racism reporter for in Chicago, Tonia Hill ’13 pushes her career forward by following the impact of personal connection. 

“Some of my biggest successes include my peers naming me the Breakout Journalist of the Year in 2023, and the relationships I’ve been able to build in this role,” Hill said. “I think journalism is often a very transactional practice, and I really am intentional about making sure I’m centering the humanity of the people I’m talking to.”

Hill found her passion for journalism at ������ý��Ƶ by being open and curious and building connections. ”I’ve always been that type of person, and that spirit was really nurtured by my professors through the texts I was reading, and the discussions we would have in class,” Hill explained. “I feel like the seeds for the person I am now had already been planted, and they began to flourish at ������ý��Ƶ.” 

When the university invited prolific activist and author Angela Davis to speak on campus, the theme of connection continued to inspire.

“I never really thought that I’d have the opportunity to sit face-to-face with somebody as important and inspiring as Angela Davis,” Hill recalled. “I learned so much from her when she visited campus that day.”

After graduating, Hill went to grad school, then returned to Chicago to pursue a career in journalism. Using her connections, she would eventually land her current position with The TRiiBE, an independently-owned Black newsroom. 

“Founded by two Black women, the mission is to reshape the narrative of Black Chicago through journalism and art,” Hill said. “Our work is all about informing the Black community here in Chicago, but also uplifting their stories. Often, mainstream news is not centering the voices of marginalized people in their reporting, but I feel like we do a great job with that.”

In the end, it all comes back to Hill’s penchant for personal connection, the effects of which were deeply felt following a period of unrest in a Chicago community where federal agents deployed tear gas without warning, and Hill was caught in the fray. 

“I inhaled some of that tear gas, and there were people in the community that reached out to check in on me,” Hill said. “I really love that I build genuine relationships with people. They hold me accountable when I get things wrong, they’re not afraid to tell me what’s up, and they trust me to listen to them and to take their feedback seriously. I really enjoy that part of the job—balancing these relationships.”

 

–Jenevieve Rowley-Davis