Meet Our Reporters
Camilo Diaz
He/Him
Camilo Diaz Jr. is a visual journalist from Fort Worth, Texas. A recent graduate of the University of North Texas, Diaz is currently a multimedia fellow at the Fort Worth Report. Growing up in the Northside neighborhood of Fort Worth, he developed a passion for visual storytelling in his early teens.
Ways to connect with Camilo:
- @CamiloDiazJr on IG/Threads
- Camilo Diaz on LinkedIn
- Website
Back to the story
I’m sure we’ve all felt this way: Your dreams are in question and you’re filled with anxiety contemplating an uncertain future. It can be overwhelming. I’ve certainly felt this way, especially after graduating college. You can start forgetting how that flourishing...
Kaiya Little
She/Her
Kaiya Little is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in journalism with a certificate in Native American and Indigenous Studies. Her reporting interests include longform journalism, culture, and stories that highlight Indigenous communities.
Her work has appeared in Texas Monthly and Texas Highways magazines, in addition to her contributions at The Daily Texan, UT’s student newspaper. Previously, she worked at the Center for Media Engagement as an undergraduate research assistant, focusing on the spread of disinformation on encrypted messaging apps. This fall, she is working as an editorial intern with Community Impact in Austin, focusing on local news coverage.
Through her journalism, Kaiya hopes to continue learning about and sharing stories from Indigenous communities—especially in Texas, where many mystified ideas about Native peoples persist.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably on her hundredth rewatch of New Girl or creating a new playlist
Ways to connect with Kaiya:
- @kaiyalittle on IG/Threads
- @kaiyalittle on X/Twitter
- Kaiya Little on LinkedIn
A print lover learns to let the audio speak
I am somebody who obsesses over the beauty of words and coming up with ways to stitch them together. For me, thinking through the right description to set a scene is how I can grab onto the moments I find through interviewing. I am always looking to convey that...
David Mercado
He/Him
David Mercado graduated from the University of Houston in 2024 with a degree in journalism. His work has been featured in Community Impact newspaper. Previously, David served as an AmeriCorps member in the Alief Independent School District, where he supported emerging bilingual students.
Ways to connect with David:
- @demc2839 on IG/Threads
- David Mercado on LinkedIn
I was daunted at first, but now I smile thinking about all I’ve learned
When I first received an email from NPR’s Next Generation Radio telling me I had been accepted, impostor syndrome quickly set in, and frankly, I was terrified. “Why me?” I thought to myself. “I don’t deserve this, I’m stealing this spot from someone who truly deserves...
Penelope Rivera
She/Her
Penelope Rivera, a Fort Worth native, recently graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Digital & Print Journalism. She currently works as a news intern for KERA, the North Texas NPR station. Previously, she served as an editor and writer for UNT’s newspaper, the North Texas Daily. Penelope is particularly interested in writing about religion, immigration, and underrepresented communities.
Ways to connect with Penelope:
- @penelope.riveraa on IG/Threads
- Penelope Rivera on LinkedIn
Next Generation Radio has been a one-of-a-kind experience!
This week, I was surrounded by professional journalists who helped guide me in shaping my story with their knowledge and support. As a recent graduate of the University of North Texas who majored in print journalism, radio storytelling was new to me. This project...
Maria Ruiz
She/Her
Maria Teresa Ruiz is a reporter at the Laredo Morning Times in Laredo, Texas. Previously, she worked as a reporter at the Progress Times in Mission, Texas, covering general and feature news across western Hidalgo County. In 2023, Ruiz attended the National Geographic Photo Camp in Brownsville, Texas, where she honed her photography and visual storytelling skills. Later that year, she was invited to National Geographic Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as an alumni member. Ruiz holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in her hometown of Edinburg, Texas.
Ways to connect with Maria:
- @marillueva on IG/Threads
- Maria Ruiz on LinkedIn
- Website
Finding home and confidence: My week embracing a new medium
When I first met with Rey Leaños at Reserva Coffee on day one, I was extremely anxious for what lay ahead. I had no idea about what it took to build a radio story, let alone a multi-media package for a website. As the days went on and I met with my team, my...
Rumi Sevilla
She/Her
Rumi Sevilla is a junior at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is studying multimedia journalism with a minor in political science. Having grown up in the El Paso/Juárez border region, Rumi’s interests center on the political challenges and underrepresented stories that exist at the crossroads between two languages, two countries and two identities.
Rumi is a staff reporter at her university’s news publication, The Prospector, where she has published audio, photo, video and web stories on issues affecting UTEP and the El Paso community. Rumi works on independent and collaborative projects centered on human rights and political issues.
After graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s in digital storytelling. She hopes to become a documentary filmmaker and photojournalist, contributing to the discourse on issues that are close to her heart and community.
Ways to connect with Rumi:
- @rumisevilla on IG/Threads
- Rumi Sevilla Hernandez on LinkedIn
- Website
How NPR’s Next Generation Radio helped me find the story I didn’t know I was looking for
As I was preparing for my junior fall semester, my professor recommended that I apply to NPR’s Next Generation Radio. At the time, I wasn’t entirely familiar with the program. Given the already jam-packed schedule I was about to head into, I was worried this great...