Before joining the Uvalde Leader-News as a Report for America corps member, Mecklin covered arts, culture and local news for Los Angeles Magazine. She also served as managing editor at Annenberg Media, the University of Southern California’s digital news outlet, and reported on LAPD’s response to pro-Palestinian encampment protests and the subsequent cancellation of main-stage commencement. During her time at Annenberg Media, she won best student arts or entertainment news story at the 2024 LA Press Club National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards for her reporting on the Syrian antiquity trade in Los Angeles. Before starting at USC, she began her career in journalism at 16 as an intern with the Santa Barbara Independent. During COVID-19 she took a break from reporting to work at the zoo as a giraffe experience specialist, where she helped guests feed and learn about endangered Masai giraffes. She loves Vietnamese food, abstract expressionist painting and her pet pug.
Beat: Reporter covering the intersection of news and crime in Uvalde
This reporter focuses on school coverage and crime. The two beats have become inextricably linked in Uvalde since the tragedy at Robb Elementary, where 19 children and two adults were slain by a gunman. At a time of growing secrecy by government officials, this reporter advances and covers school board meetings, develops standalone stories originating from and outside of meetings, and highlights campus events. Sources for the crime beat include the Uvalde Police Department, Uvalde County Sheriff's Office, and Uvalde CISD police, with some interaction with Sabinal Police Department, county constables, and Real and Zavala county sheriff's offices.