Darwin Yanes

I didn’t always know I wanted to become a journalist.

Growing up, I often would go to my family’s deli in Valley Stream after school. Picking up the daily edition of Newsday was one of the first things I would do, even before greeting anyone.

Newsday is vital to the community because we tell stories that otherwise might not be told.

I would grab the paper, find a seat, and flip the paper to the sports section to quickly check scores before reading the news. At the time, I didn’t anticipate that my name and words one day would be featured in the paper.

I was born and raised on Long Island. While growing up, I often debated which career to pursue, but nothing stood out. All I knew at the time was that I enjoyed telling stories. It wasn’t until my time at Stony Brook University that I realized I could make a living doing that.

Right after college, I worked at a local weekly newspaper, covering the City of Long Beach and other parts of Nassau County. There, I saw firsthand the impact a local paper could have on the community.

I joined Newsday in 2021 and immediately understood that there wasn’t another media outlet around that had the resources and commitment to produce such impactful journalism.

Newsday is vital to the community because we tell stories that otherwise might not be told. I think it’s the attention to detail that reporters and editors give every story that makes Newsday different. Not only do we care about the stories we publish, but we have a commitment to the topics and people we cover.

During my time as a Newsday reporter, I have covered a wide range of stories, from topics such as local government to crime to environmental issues to education.

I’ve also written obituaries of Long Islanders, giving readers a glimpse of their lives. One of the toughest challenges we face is calling families after a tragedy. But it is necessary because instead of just writing about people as victims, we aim to tell readers about their lives.

My goal as a journalist is to provide readers with the most accurate, informative and balanced reporting I can. It’s an honor when people put their faith in us to tell their stories.