Montana

Hannah Shields

Before joining Daily Inter Lake, Hannah Shields reported on the Wyoming state government for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, covering health care policy, education and state politics, among other issues. She earned a first-place Pacemaker Award from the Wyoming Press Association for an investigative piece on special education in public schools. She placed third in the Top of the Rockies Award for a story on Medicaid in Wyoming. Her passion for journalism was sparked while taking Journalism 101 at a community college in California. From there, she transferred to Long Beach State University and immediately joined the student newspaper, where she served as the news editor. She interned at The Sacramento Bee the summer after graduating with her bachelor's degree in journalism and political science. When not writing, Shields enjoys dancing ballet, reading and listening to podcasts!

Lauren Miller

Prior to joining the Montana Free Press, Lauren Miller worked as a multimedia journalist at the Casper Star-Tribune first and then the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. The Syracuse University graduate is passionate about visual storytelling, including photography, cinematography, portraiture, audio and archival work, and tailors her approach to each project’s needs. She is dedicated to genuinely capturing the intimate, mundane and beautiful moments and emotions that make up daily life. Outside of her work, she is passionate about the outdoors, running, winning card games, being with her friends, baking, fighting through her lactose intolerance for deep dish pizza and, occasionally, long walks on the beach, or rather runs in the mountains.

Montana Free Press

Montana Free Press is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan, public-powered news organization dedicated to reaching and serving the information needs of all Montanans by producing in-depth news, information, and analysis. MTFP's mission is to provide Montanans access to high-quality journalism that creates positive change and helps move society toward justice and equity.

Daily Inter Lake

Published consistently since 1889, the Daily Inter Lake serves readers across the expansive Northwest Montana region through a robust print edition that is delivered six days a week and digital platforms that include timely news posts, and video and audio content. The newsroom prioritizes community journalism that helps local residents better understand their communities. The Daily Inter Lake was named the best daily newspaper in the state in 2024.

Olivia Reingold

Olivia has been a producer at Georgia Public Radio, an 18-station NPR network that airs across the state, into parts of South Carolina and Alabama.  She’s a producer for two podcasts, “Political Rewind” about local issues and “Two Way Street,” about arts and culture. She won a first place award for feature writing from the Associated Press and first place award for “Radio Reporting Excellence” given by the Atlanta Press Club. She was also an intern at WSB TV in Atlanta.  got her B.A. from Oglethorpe University and an M.A. from Columbia University Journalism School.

Isabel Hicks

Isabel Hicks reports on the future of agriculture for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. A graduate of Colorado College with a degree in environmental studies and journalism, Hicks was the editor-in-chief of her college paper. Throughout her journalism career, she has strived to tell stories about human relationships with the environment. Born and raised in Denver, Hicks worked on an organic farm in Carbondale, Colorado, where she became well-versed in challenges facing food systems in the Rocky Mountain West. While working on the farm Hicks also freelanced for Carbondale’s local paper, earning front-page coverage for her environmental reporting. Hicks also wrote a weekly newsletter about COVID-19 impacts to higher education, producing work that was featured in the New York Times, USA Today, and the Colorado Sun. In her free time, Hicks enjoys fostering kittens, hiking and tending to her many houseplants.

Ellis Juhlin

Ellis Juhlin covers Montana government and the legislative session as the Statehouse reporter for Yellowstone Public Radio. Previously, Juhlin was a science reporter for Utah Public Radio. With a background in natural resources and wildlife management, Juhlin began her journalism career as a graduate student at Utah State University where she realized her passion for science communication and started working with Utah Public Radio to translate complex environmental issues for listeners across the state. She holds a master’s degree in ecology from Utah State University and a bachelor’s from the University of California, San Diego. An avid birder, Juhlin also loves to go hiking with her two rescue dogs.

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle has published for more than a century, covering Gallatin County and beyond in southwestern Montana. The paper publishes six days a week, and has a robust online presence.

Yellowstone Public Radio

Yellowstone Public Radio, an NPR affiliate, is the largest public radio network in the continental United States. Covering Billings, Bozeman, Helena and the rural areas of Montana and Northern Wyoming, YPR is the definitive news source for many of rural listeners, distributing news content over its website and mobile app.

Sam Wilson

Samuel Wilson is a visual journalist covering rural Montana for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. He has worked most recently as a freelance photographer based in Portland, Oregon, his hometown, and previously in southeast Alaska, while also independently producing short and full-length documentaries. Wilson interned at several community newspapers around the country after graduating from the University of Montana, where he was the multimedia editor for the student publication, the Montana Kaimin, and took first place in the Hearst National Multimedia Championship. Wilson considers the mountains of the Pacific Northwest to be home.