Meet Olivia! You may have ran into Olivia at a community event or covering a local meeting. She is a strong writer and has a knack for detail.

Wise beyond her years, we are lucky to have her on our team!

Olivia is a Community News Reporter at SweetwaterNOW. She is a Green River native, and says she feels privileged to be able to serve in the position as a reporter for the community she grew up in.

Olivia has always enjoyed writing and during her junior year of high school discovered her interest in Journalism. Combining her natural curiosity for people and the community in which she lives with a love for writing brought her to the University of Wyoming. She started studying in Laramie after graduating in 2013, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 2017 with a focus in new media. 

While completing her education, Olivia spent two summers interning at the Green River Star where she gained real world Journalism experience covering Green River City Council meetings and several community events. 

After earning her degree, she began searching for jobs and discovered an opening at SweetwaterNOW at the beginning of September 2017.

In September 2020, Olivia will have been a part of the SweetwaterNOW team for three years!

During her time at SweetwaterNOW, she has covered an array of beats and events all the way from sports to Sweetwater County Commissioners meetings. Olivia regularly covers the commissioner meetings as well as Green River City Council, the Wyoming Governor’s press conferences, the Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees, and she is in charge of the #WHYoming features that highlight local community members each week.

Olivia has primarily focused on writing and photography throughout her career, but has been looking forward to adding in videography as she continues to improve her other skills.

Her goal from the very start of her journalism career was to keep the community informed about the happenings in their area as well as share their stories.

Olivia says her favorite part of this job is meeting people in the community and sharing their voices and experiences. “After-all, what is community journalism without the community?”

EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 307-922-0700 Ext. 708

Describe your typical workday.
My workday definitely varies from day-to-day. So maybe we’ll go with my work week? It consists of covering meetings such as Sweetwater County Commissioners, Green River City Council, and Sweetwater County School District #2. I also cover breaking news, community events, some sports, and I write feature stories, including the #WHYoming series.

What are you most passionate about professionally?
I love finding those unique and amazing stories and sharing them with the community. I value the role I get to play in telling those awesome stories.

If you weren’t so dang good at your job, what would be doing for a living?
Maybe a professional chef. That or a dog walker. Yeah, dog walker, that sounds pretty cool.

Flashback to when you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
It rotated between three professions: volleyball player, singer, and marine biologist. Did you know marine biologists don’t just play with dolphins all day? What a bummer.

How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Stubborn, caring, and loyal.

How would most people describe you?
Nice, shy, and again, stubborn.

What are you 3 of your pet peeves?
Loud chewing, rudeness, and they’re, their, and there not being used correctly.

What are you happiest doing when you’re not working?
Listening to music and writing.

Do you have a pet(s)?
I have two Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler mixes, Harlee and Maggie. They’re also both three-years-old so they have tons of energy. They are very sweet, beautiful, and full of personality.

If you could be anywhere, right this minute, where would it be?
A seaside village in the United Kingdom.

What is your favorite food?
Cheesecake and grilled cheese. Pretty much just any and all variations of cheese.

Do you have any talents most people don’t know about?
I can sing, I guess. I can also coil a mean pot.

What would be your personal motto? Or your favorite quote…
“You are strong, you’re a Kelly Clarkson song, you got this.” -Jonathan Van Ness

Is there anything else you want to share about yourself on the world wide web?
Nope, I think I’ve been exposed enough.