HCP #029 - Emma Ruby: Running Toward the Story, Writing for the Neighborhood

Emma Ruby is a staff writer for the Dallas Observer and former editor of the Oak Cliff Advocate, where she quickly became a voice for the neighborhood she now calls home. In this episode, Emma shares how a snarky middle school article about Miley Cyrus kicked off her journalism journey, what it was like to jump headfirst into covering Oak Cliff, and how telling stories about her neighbors helped her fall back in love with reporting.We talk about journalism as a public service, the rise of nonprofit newsrooms, and the balancing act of writing for both the archives and the algorithm. Along the way, we dig into her coverage of the Belmont Hotel, navigating conspiracy brain, and why there's joy in hyperlocal journalism—even when you're writing about Southwest Airlines' baggage policy.