Journalist Spotlight | Interview with Kelley Tantau, Senior and Public Interest Journalist at The Valley Profile

In this journalist spotlight interview, Kelley Tantau, a Senior and Public Interest Journalist at The Valley Profile, an independently-owned community newspaper in New Zealand, discusses her role, the importance of community journalism, and the differences between working for an independent publication versus a major media outlet. She also shares her experience as a fiction writer, the challenges of writing fiction, and how her journalism career has influenced her writing.

Tantau emphasizes the value of community news and the importance of supporting local journalism. She also provides advice to young and emerging journalists and shares her insights on what makes a good news story pitch.

Hi Kelley! Could you tell me about your role at The Valley Profile? What does being a Public Interest Journalist entail?

I’ve been a Senior Reporter at The Valley Profile, an independently-owned community newspaper, since late 2020. It was established by Teresa Ramsey, a former Stuff reporter, who once told me that we weren’t reinventing the wheel, we were just producing a local newspaper the way it should be produced: locally. It has been a thrill to see it become such a trusted news source in our area.

As a Public Interest Journalist, funded by NZ On Air, I am tasked with sourcing and writing stories of local, regional, and national significance that put my community front and centre. 

Could you also talk about community media/journalism in Aotearoa? How the landscape changed throughout your career, and why is there a continuing need to support local journalism?

In my opinion, community news hardly ever gets the kudos it deserves. I’ve been in the industry for almost a decade now and I’ve seen how much work goes into producing a community newspaper. You’re not just focused on one branch of news. To be a community reporter you have to be adept at attending and writing about council meetings, district court hearings, sports games, theatre shows, while also highlighting education, the environment, and of course, the local people. 

Imagine if towns like Paeroa, Thames, Waihi, Ngatea, Kaiaua (all the places I cover and everywhere in between) had no community newspaper? That’s hundreds of stories every year never getting reported on. Important news and events that no one would know about. People may have the impression that a community newspaper and the team behind one do not break large or significant stories but that is simply not true. All stories start within a community. That’s why I think it’s crucial that local journalism continues to get support. It’s not only reassuring for readers to know what’s happening in their neighbourhoods, but valuable and, overall, important.

Prior to working at The Valley Profile, you were a journalist for Stuff. What are some of the biggest differences between covering local/regional news for a media conglomerate vs an independent outlet?

The biggest differences between independent papers and major, mainstream news outlets are some of the best. For instance, with The Valley Profile, I am covering and breaking stories in the community that I reside in. This makes developing relationships, building trust, and familiarising yourself with local history all the easier and more satisfying. Instead of chasing news in another area, or writing articles based on their click-rate, I can be more focused on finding and telling news in a community that would otherwise be without.

You’re also a fiction writer. Tell us about your book, The Runaway Man. As a journalist, what were some of the challenges in writing fiction? Did you carry over some of your journalist writing habits, quirks, lessons, strategies etc into your novel?

I wrote The Runaway Man never intending for anyone (besides my parents!) to ever read it. It took two years to write and it was a personal achievement of mine to not just start, but complete, a novel. After being inspired to share my hard work, I took a deep breath and released it out into the world. It was one of the most frightening but fulfilling things I’ve ever done!

My work as a journalist did help me write The Runaway Man. Not only did I use newspaper articles as a plot device, but I tried to make human nature a strong theme of the book. Having met plenty of humans whose backgrounds have all been rich and diverse, I hoped to capture that emotion in The Runaway Man.

The only real challenge with writing fiction came after the book was released! When you’re so used to asking the questions and being behind the scenes, it was difficult to switch roles and promote myself! 

Have you always wanted to be a writer and how did you come to journalism? What advice would you give to young or emerging journalists just starting out in the field?

I have always wanted to be a writer, and some of my earliest memories involve me writing short stories for my classmates at primary school, and making my own magazines and newspapers. So, I knew I wanted to go to The University of Waikato to major in Writing Studies, which I did in 2013. There, I was taught formal writing, writing for public relations, scriptwriting, and creative writing. But it wasn’t until I was given an opportunity for a work placement that I discovered journalism.

Steve Edwards, a long-time community newspaper reporter and editor, introduced me to the world of community news at The Piako Post, a former Stuff title. After gaining work experience there, a job opportunity opened up at The Hamilton Press, another former Stuff title of which Steve was also the editor. I was encouraged to apply and got the job, working from The Waikato Times office in Hamilton.

Safe to say I was very green! There were many times I felt out of my depth and not cut out for journalism, but I was doing what I loved every day - writing, meeting people, and telling their stories. That was and remains a real privilege. I just had to find my feet. So for any young or emerging journalists starting out, firstly, thank you for choosing this wonderful (and often underappreciated) career. My advice would simply be to do it because you have a passion for it. Listen, learn, and be grateful for those who are teaching you.  

Lastly, what makes for a good pitch? And what should writers and journalists keep in mind when pitching a news story to their community/local paper?

Funny you ask this question because when I was starting out, I was never a good pitcher! I was so nervous that my stories or ideas weren’t good enough, but for me, confidence came with experience. The more stories I sourced, and the more stories I pitched, the more I became sure that what I had in my hands had real news value. That also meant learning that a good story could be found anywhere, or within anyone. I mean, for The Valley Profile, I wrote a story about a coat hanger that had been returned to a motel after 47 years, and it got picked up by 1News. That right there is an example of a humble, community news story that has national appeal because of its uniqueness, positivity, and sense of humour.