Hello! My name is Eric Welch; I’m pleased to be the newest staff member at the Bonner County Daily Bee. As a city and education reporter, I’ll have the privilege of sharing the latest developments in the city of Sandpoint and in Bonner County’s schools. I look forward to discovering what makes Bonner County remarkable and spotlighting it for the benefit of the community.

I was born and raised in southern Minnesota, where I developed a passion for reading, writing, and most of all, the outdoors. This led me to mountainous western Montana and Montana State University (MSU), a midsize school in the booming town of Bozeman. There, I spent my free time trekking in nearby Glacier National Park, biking in the Gallatin Mountains, and skiing in the surrounding backcountry.

While I sunk my teeth into wild Montana, my time at MSU also facilitated my first hands-on experiences in news media. As an upperclassman, I covered sports and outdoors for the student-run MSU Exponent newspaper. Interviewing local biologists tracking migratory raptors and following the MSU Bobcats football team through an undefeated regular season showed me how rewarding it is to draw attention to passionate people. That’s what makes community journalism exceptional!

My interdisciplinary curriculum at MSU (I studied microbiology and writing) has significantly shaped my approach to reporting. News writing is a science — it takes persistent adherence to an objective, fundamental method to produce quality content. Like a scientist, an effective reporter makes observations and disseminates analysis in a clear and comprehensive way. This approach, I hope, will help me provide useful insights for Daily Bee readers.

When I’m not reporting, you’ll find me out on the trails, on the lift at Schweitzer, or reading in the park. To share leads, stories worth telling, or feedback, message me at ewelch@bonnercountydailybee.com.

    Eric Welch, city and education reporter, biking on Gooseberry Mesa near St. George, Utah.