Wordle of the day is Story: Melina Delkic and the New York Times

KATHRYN CHAVEZ: How does one get a New York Times byline? It is one of the most famous newspapers in the world, a cornerstone of both American and global journalism, and the home of “I’m Michael Barbaro and this is The Daily.” For Melina Delkic, she found her way by asking questions and telling stories. Graduating from Georgetown in 2017, with a degree in English, she is a testimony to persistence and storytelling. Now piecing together the daily news of Asia, Delkic has a way of breaking life into meaningful parts, and putting them together to create a unique picture.

Growing up as a Bosnian War Refugee from Germany, Delkic could not be afraid to ask questions in her childhood. She had to ask questions for her parents at the doctor’s office, and make requests of the grocery clerks. The immigrant child experience for her: "Boldly make your way around… knowing how to ask for what you need and understand what's happening around you so you can convey it to others." So, when asked to reflect on why she wanted to pursue journalism, she drew upon her childhood and the skill of asking questions to get the right story.

At Georgetown, she kept that same childhood curiosity. "I wanted to get as involved as possible and try out as much as I could," said Delkic. While she started her time at Georgetown thinking she would major in business, she soon found that her interests lay elsewhere. "I felt we were surrounded by all these great opportunities [at Georgetown], and I was curious about how all of these government processes work."

Her professional story in DC starts as an intern in the congressional office of St. Louis congressman William Lacy Clay. It was her chance to have a national question answered about what really happens in government. But, what would become her precursor to journalism was interning in the Presidential Correspondents Office.

The Presidential Correspondents Office is like the department of human stories, or what Delkic called, "The pulse of the average person's experiences." Whether a sweet note from a child, love stories, or horrible medical traumas, she recalls feeling humbled by the letters as they reminded her she was just a speck in the grand scheme of things. This humanity stuck with her. "My favorite part of writing a story now is interviewing people," said Delkic. "I love to hear people's stories.”

This journey into journalism starts with rejection at the New York Times, twice over. But rejection is just a part of life, especially in the world of journalism. "There are the big life lessons that are important, like the job is not your self-worth. It is a hard one to learn," said Delkic. "But the rest of life matters too. When you have a lot going on in the rest of your life, the rejections in the workplace don't hit as hard.” Luckily for Delkic, a position would open up at a new desk, and they asked if she was interested.

An important takeaway from Delkic is the power of telling others’ stories in conjunction with one's own. As Carrie Bradshaw said in the last episode of "And Just Like That," the future is unwritten, and lucky for Delkic, she likes to write.

"You have to think about at some point what you're good at and what you like—what you're willing to do for years and years. And after trying so much, I realized the things that stood out were writing and journalism. They clearly stood out as things that I enjoyed and wanted to keep pursuing," said Delkic.

Delkic’s journey at the Times carried her from an internship, to the editor for the second and third pages of the paper, and finally to a writing role. But, one through-line of her time is her continued interest and responsibility in reading other peoples’ stories.

Covid-19 has been the story for the past two years, but not everyone was telling it at the start. As New York was hitting its peak, she recalls things feeling uncertain. But, she remembers it as a time of gratitude. She could share the stories of people pouring their hearts out, and the cold hard facts of experts in epidemiology.

Delkic’s story now entails being a writer with a New York Times byline, meeting deadlines, and missed celebrity encounters. "There was a time when Jay Z visited the building and walked right by where my old desk was just after I finished my internship, and I was quite jealous about that." But for a journalist, the ultimate fangirl moment is seeing one's name in print.

"It is special to be in print, especially since our newspaper is so beautifully designed," said Delkic. "All the people who work in print, I'm always in awe of them. The copy editors, the art directors, the designers, it's just really kind of insane the work they do."

There is so much behind a byline. At The New York Times, journalism is a fast-paced environment, where often being the first to press publish is critical. Delkic is an advocate of setting strict deadlines and holding oneself to them.

The fast-paced, deadline-heavy environment is one that requires teamwork. For aspiring journalists, a simple tool is often forgotten: simply making others’ lives easier. Delkic supplied that reminder by suggesting the best place to start is often asking your coworkers, “What do you need?”

"Your readers expect something by a certain time in the morning, and the news is going to keep moving, whether you send it or not. So, you just need to get it into their inboxes," said Delkic.

Journalism always needs passionate writers asking the right questions, even when they may not have a clear answer. Journalism is powerful because of its ability to tell stories and share the human experience. When times get stressful, Delkic points to horizontal mentorship and the wisdom of those around you. At a place like the New York Times, with constructive teamwork, there will never be a shortage of inspiration.

"Make sure you work hard, but also enjoy yourself in the work. There's always some space for your passion… or finding something that you can have fun writing," said Delkic.

Kathryn Chavez is a First Year Master of Public Policy student at the McCourt School. Originally from outside Dallas, Texas, she graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2021 with degrees in Business Management, Advertising and Fashion Media with a minor in Journalism.