HERMISTON — Six years ago, Daneli Atilano of Hermiston was looking to develop journalism experience by interning at local newspapers, including the one in her hometown.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

So the 2019 Hermiston High School graduate went to Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, where she found opportunities to learn and hone her skills at its student-run organization, The Voice. (She’s in the process of completing her degree, majoring in English and writing, with a graduation date slated in December.)

“I really got into journalism my junior year of college,” Atilano said. “It was a student newspaper, so it wasn’t anything crazy, but I did get a lot of experience from it.”

Now that path has brought her home. And the 22-year-old Atilano, who started Monday, Aug. 14, as a full-time reporter at the Hermiston Herald, looks to advance even further.

Despite her recent arrival, Atilano’s no stranger to EO Media. As a freelancer, she contributed to its Go! Magazine, a route suggested by her journalism professor.

“It’s interesting that EOU, even though they’re a really small school, managed to help me build my career pretty early, before even graduating,” she said.

Atilano said her favorite stories are personal and local.

“I once interviewed an artist who gave me very detailed answers and had gotten very personal with her responses,” she said. “I really like it when they are open enough, when they trust you enough to share stuff like that.”

And she recalled her excitement when one of her features appeared in Go! Magazine.

“I ran to the post office to get it,” she said. “It just felt weird to see, but it felt nice too.”

As she settles into her new position, Atilano has expressed interest in exploring different types of stories and examining more serious topics, including political ones, come November.

As her byline begins to accumulate in these pages, Atilano recognizes the humor of her journey.

“I was honestly pretty surprised that I had gotten the job,” she said. “I haven’t graduated yet. I think it’s a cute story that I was trying to be an intern here many years ago, and now I managed to get a job as a full-time reporter.”

In her free time, Atilano enjoys studying Korean and Spanish. Highlights of her life outside of journalism include her cat, Alaska, and a recent 35-day trip across Europe.