Devon Marti

Growing up the youngest of five in a busy household in Cleveland, OH, I fell in love with newspapers at a very young age. I learned when I was little, the only way to be heard at the kitchen table was to be involved in the discussion. These discussions usually involved the topics written about on the front page of the day’s Plain Dealer. Although it took a few years for me to actually join these discussions, I took away a lot of wisdom from hearing my mother and grandmother discuss the issues facing the world. I realized when I was older how beneficial those discussion were to me as a young child. They caused me to be passionate about the news, about facts and most importantly about other people’s opinions. Because of this passion, I chose to follow my dreams of becoming an investigative reporter.

Tell us a little bit about what you were doing before you came to Columbia.

I began my journey towards my dreams at The University of Findlay, in Findlay, Ohio. Here I completed my undergraduate degree in just three years, with two B.A. degrees in journalism and political science. During my time at Findlay, I was able to intern at CBS Radio in Cleveland for two summers in their digital journalism department. During my two summers at CBS Radio, I was nationally published on every CBS Radio station’s website nine times. My experience at CBS Radio encouraged me to continue to go after my dreams to be an investigative journalist, which lead my to Columbia College Chicago.

Why did you choose Columbia for your graduate study?

When looking at graduate schools, I was torn between Columbia College and another graduate school in Boston. I chose Columbia for its small class sizes and extremely talented staff, but it ended up being an even better choice for so many other reasons. The professors and staff at Columbia College go above and beyond to make sure their students have the chance to reach their dreams, as long as they are willing to put in the work for them.

Tell us about a project you’re working on that you’re excited about.

Being a journalist in the city of Chicago is not an easy task, but it is a very rewarding one. During my short time in Chicago, I have already learned so much about this city and the people I can serve through my work. To me, journalism is not just about telling a story, it is about educating people with that story. It is also about being able to educate the people in a way no one else can, by getting the facts and being unbiased. If I continue to work hard and follow my instincts, I know this program will lead me to my dreams.