Medianet sat down with Courtney Kruk to share her experiences and insight into the industry as Managing Editor at RIISE, a global lifestyle and fashion destination.
You're currently working as Managing Editor for RIISE, can you tell me a bit about your start in the industry?
I finished my BA in Creative Writing and Journalism in 2019 and was lucky enough to be offered a casual reporting role with The Weekend Edition where I interned shortly after graduating. Around the same time, I started working as a copywriter and content writer for a travel-focused digital agency. After both roles were affected by COVID, I scored a position as a features writer with RIISE.
What have you learnt about yourself during your career and industry experiences?
I’ve definitely learned that I did the right degree and that I was probably always destined to be a writer. For the longest time, people told me I should be a journalist but I brushed it off and started a nursing and exercise science degree straight after school. I lasted less than a year and dropped out. I decided to go back in my mid-twenties and give journalism a go and it was the right decision! It’s nice to end up in an industry you’re really passionate about where you can see a lot of opportunities for yourself.
If you could go back 5 years, what advice would you give yourself?
Stop stressing so much and overthinking. Invest more in your interests, the things you care about and the things that are actually important to you. Read more. Don’t work every weekend. Trust that things will work out.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Definitely stepping in as Editor-in-Chief of RIISE while my amazing former co-worker Wendy Syfret was on maternity leave. They were big shoes to fill, especially as I didn’t have a lot of previous industry experience. It was a really great opportunity.
Where do you see yourself in the future and where would you like your work to take you?
I’d love to be a foreign correspondent or explore more investigative journalism in the future. I’ve always been interested in that kind of journalism and I think that’s where the most important, impactful stories are being told and where I feel most drawn to.
What perspectives and stories do you want to see more of, or highlighted, in the industry?
I always want to hear more perspectives and stories from marginalised and underrepresented groups. I want to see more people who have lived experiences or have been affected by certain issues able to talk about them. I don’t want to keep hearing from people who have vested interests or are upholding power structures that aren’t moving society forward, making life better and more equitable for people and helping the planet.
Any upcoming work we should keep an eye out for?
I just finished my first cover story on actress and environmental activist Nathalie Kelley - Actress-Turned-Activist Nathalie Kelley On Hollywood, Finding Purpose And Telling Stories.
What are your pitching preferences?
Before pitching, make sure you are familiar with our publication and the kind of content we write about and make sure your idea hasn’t been covered before. Then send me an email! Introduce yourself and tell me a bit about the pitch you have in mind.
Courtney Kruk can be contacted at Courtney.Kruk@riise.world.
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