Meet: Ariana Santiago

·15 min

1. 15 Minute Story follows Ariana Santiago at Craig Newmark, where Sid records a live conversation about local accountability, photojournalism, and first-semester journalism classes. 2. Sid hosts the episode, and Ariana Santiago is the student guest whose move from pilot training to journalism shapes the whole conversation. 3. The core thread is Ariana's switch from aviation plans to journalism, with career quizzes, politics, and writing all pointing her toward a more flexible path. 4. Ariana says she first aimed to be a pilot, but "20-20 vision with glasses" and the cost of a private pilot license pushed her away from that plan. 5. She links that pivot to a research habit that started at Kennedy Space Center and grew through essays on women pilots during World War II. 6. Ariana says photojournalism feels more exciting than article writing because she wants to "capture those emotions on picture rather than through writing." 7. Sid notes her work on parking struggles in Ozone Park and a women's pro baseball draft party, and Ariana says one interview was with New York's first draft pick. 8. Ariana describes her first camera, a Sony RX100 Mark VII, and explains that its 200 millimeter reach should help with sports photography in stadiums. 9. She also says she wants to write about women, LGBT issues, women with autism, and programs like She Codes because they can inspire younger girls in male-dominated fields. 10. Listeners interested in student journalism, women in STEM, and sports photography.

As heard by us

A student profile rooted in reporting instincts, early ambition, and a first camera.

The profile follows Ariana Santiago, a first-semester Craig Newmark student who wants to center local accountability and photojournalism, even if that path is not officially offered as a concentration.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a first-semester journalism profile that stays practical, camera-in-hand, and honest about the nerves.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify