Imagine if you will, a reporter or editor being interviewed by us. That’s right, we interview them. Why? Because too often in our business it’s tough to find time, foster a relationship, and say thank you for all you do to keep the public informed and entertained.
We figured a page in our monthly newsletter would be a good way to do just that – and keep our readers up to speed on what’s happening in media.
Justyna Tomtas, Reporter at the Denver Business Journal
What got you interested in becoming a reporter, when did you begin and how’d you get to where you are today?
I have always enjoyed writing and consider myself a naturally curious person, but I think the catalyst for becoming a reporter came from my dad.
He ran an underground newspaper in Poland during the Solidarność movement as he worked to end communism in his country. It led to him being arrested almost a dozen times, while causing problems for my family that eventually led my parents to move to America. Realizing I had the freedom to do what my dad once risked everything for, but to do it openly and without fear, has always been a powerful motivation for me.
I got my first reporting position in 2012 in Montana. From there, I bounced around to other papers in Washington and Idaho for reporter and editor roles. In 2023, I decided to move back to Colorado to be closer to my family and landed my job at the Denver Business Journal.
Tell us about your day-to-day – how do you gather leads? What are your beats?
I cover local government, land use, and suburban development. Many of my leads come from public records, like deeds and site development plans. Sourcing and building relationships with people are also key ways I learn about interesting stories or trends I want to cover.
As a reporter, what’s a favorite story you’ve been able to share?
It’s hard to pick my favorite story from over the years, but recently, I’ve been covering some interesting projects taking place in the Denver-metro area, particularly infill developments and adaptive reuse projects. I love exploring how these efforts reshape neighborhoods and what they mean for the people who live and work there.
In the reporting world, what are some industry changes that have occurred – and where might we be headed in the near future?
I’ve seen enormous changes at newspapers, especially in how audiences consume news and how we deliver information. The shift toward digital-first storytelling has led reporters to become more versatile. While the fundamentals of journalism haven’t change, I do anticipate technology to continue to reshape our workflows.
What do you do for fun – and we hear you want to buy a farm?
I love traveling and being outdoors. You can find me camping or going on weekend adventures in an attempt to find hidden gems in the area. I have always loved animals, and I do one day hope to have a small hobby farm with a hodge podge of random animals and a large garden. That is the dream!
What else would you like to share with us?
I think building connections with others is key as reporters work to rebuild trust with communities that often feel they already have all the information they need at their fingertips. Going beyond a press release, asking the important follow up questions and getting to the root issues impacting our coverage area is so important.
“We must go beyond a press release and get to the root issues impacting our coverage area.”
~ Justyna Tomtas
