Finding Your Voice in Independent Journalism

On December 12, students from the Social Justice and Community Partnerships Department, Organized Latina Exchange (OLE), and Marlborough’s student-run newspaper The UltraViolet (UV) co-hosted an informative and enlightening Pushing Perspectives that explored the independent, community-focused journalism of L.A. Taco. 

The independent media platform, which began 20 years ago as a blog about Los Angeles street culture, has now evolved into a full-fledged news outlet. The reporters at L.A. Taco are best known for “covering LA's most marginalized communities, delivering essential stories that are often overlooked by mainstream media or that they are unprepared to report,” as Dean of the Social Justice and Community Partnerships Department Pamela Wright noted. From profiling local street vendors and taxidermists to reporting on the ICE raids and policies affecting immigrant communities, the staff at L.A. Taco dedicates themselves to covering all-things Los Angeles.

Four L.A. Taco staff members joined the discussion: Iván Fernández, Reporter and Weekend Editor; Alejandra Cid, Social Media Producer; Julianne Le, Editorial Assistant; and Aisha Wallace-Palomares, Multimedia Reporter and Producer. Moderated by OLE member and UV reporter Paloma V. ’26, the panel offered students firsthand insight into the work behind community journalism. 

When Paloma asked each panelist about their journey to L.A. Taco, a common theme emerged. All were driven by a desire to highlight communities that may not show up in mainstream media or on the front page of legacy newspapers; to cover stories that they are passionate about and to do so in their own voices. 

This independence extends even to writing style. While Marlborough journalists study and employ the Associated Press (AP) style in their writing, L.A. Taco has deliberately chosen a different path. “Since we started as a blog, we still try to retain some of the street-level identity we had from the beginning,” Mr. Fernández explained. “We don't use AP style or try to get too professional because we feel that that removes the humanity out of it. It just goes back to trying to keep reminding people that we're writing about real people on the street in their daily lives.”

For UV reporters who spend time mastering AP conventions, hearing about another way of covering news that prioritizes individual voice over standardization offers a new perspective on what journalism can be.

The conversation then turned to L.A. Taco’s booming social media presence, their social media strategy, and their nimble coverage of rapidly developing stories. When ICE raids began occurring across Los Angeles over the summer, L.A. Taco launched the “Daily Memo”—daily video reports by L.A. Taco’s Director of Engagement Memo Torres providing information about raids, reminders about California and LA County protections, and policy updates. 

Ms. Wallace-Palomares described to students how L.A. Taco reporters work diligently to fact-check and confirm details through community outreach and by contacting local and national law enforcement agencies to confirm their involvement. It was a lesson in balancing speed with accuracy in reporting.

Paloma asked Ms. Cid how she balances emotionally heavy reporting alongside other content showing different stories around Los Angeles. Ms. Cid described the “mental gymnastics” it requires to balance the gravity of serious stories while engaging readers’ limited attention spans and encouraging them to read full articles rather than just headlines. 

To conclude the discussion, the L.A. Taco team took questions from the gathered students. Daniella A. ’27 asked, “What is the most valuable thing that L.A. Taco has given you throughout your time working there?” Ms. Wallace-Palomares’ response perfectly encapsulated the insight given to students on the potential of expressing their unique voice in independent journalism: “It's very difficult as an early career journalist to land a job where you have the opportunity to cover a beat that you want to cover. At L.A. Taco, I feel like they value all of us, even if we're pretty early on in our careers. They allow us a lot of freedom to pursue the stories that we want and they trust us. I've been able to find my voice again in my writing and my reporting.”

For students navigating their own paths—whether through the UV, social justice work, or the ever-changing and charged political landscape, the message was clear. There is room in journalism for voices that don’t fit the “traditional” mold, and those voices are more essential than ever. Outlets like L.A. Taco are proving that community-focused, independent reporting isn’t just viable, it is vital.