Mikayla Newton: Helping Students Become Journalists
In the midst of the pandemic, with her job becoming increasingly stressful and her mom in cancer treatment many states away, this month’s PowHERful woman of distinction, journalist Mikayla Newton, says her life felt out of control. “I worried every day when I woke up and before I closed my eyes to go to sleep. There I was, in upstate NY at a job I’d worked so hard to find, so far from my family… My life and my work became more and more stressful as Covid spread. Nothing felt solid anymore.”
But Mikayla found the courage to hold fast. And now, four years later, established as a television reporter/anchor for a news station in Washington, D.C. and a PowHERful contributor, she cannot hide her enthusiasm. “I’m excited to give young women something that every girl needs: a mentor.”
Mikayla’s journey as a journalist began back in middle school when she joined the school newspaper and found a love of writing. In high school, unusually clear-sighted, she saw a path for herself, steps she could take to make journalism her career. She interned at a local newspaper, then went on to host her own radio show.
As a student at Georgia State University, Mikayla pursued a degree in the field. She joined various media organizations and interned at CNN and Fox 5 Atlanta. “When I graduated in 2019, I desperately needed a job. I worked hard to network and, eventually, through people I met, got a freelance gig at CNN/HLN. I was a cross-platform production assistant and associate producer.”
It was a good job experience. But Mikayla envisioned something different: she wanted to work in front of the camera. Knowing the highly competitive nature of on-air journalism, Mikayla, from her home in Riverdale, Georgia, spread her net wide and applied to positions all across the country. “My mom, who always encouraged me to believe I could do whatever I put my mind to, helped me by finding and printing out hundreds of reporting and anchoring job offers.”
Mikayla finally landed a job as a weekend anchor and reporter in Elmira, NY. It was here that she weathered the most challenging moments she’s yet experienced. Moving from her family and all she loved in Georgia was “the hardest thing I've ever had to do,” she says. “I had so many adjustments to make, learning how to live in this new reality. In the span of a year, I experienced culture shock, growing pains, separation anxiety… And then Covid hit. Worst of all, it was at this time that my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Now, a handful of years later, Mikayla tells us, “My mom is cancer free, I live in a different city with a better job opportunity and an even greater support system—and I see my family once a month.” Reflecting on how she made it through, Mikayla speaks of her faith. “I knew that I had to continue to believe that everything was going to be okay, because things always turn out okay.” Feeling strong in her conviction, Mikayla was inspired to do even more. “God equipped me with the tools and resources I needed,” she says—so, in 2022, she started Mikayla Newton Foundation, Inc., a non-profit that provides focused programs and resources to help aspiring journalists. “I knew that there was a need for this kind of program,” she says, “and local school systems have been extremely open to having someone with experience in the field teaching their students. It’s easy for me to connect with the students: as a reporter, I’m familiar with what’s going on in their community day-to-day.”
“I've had people who are just starting out ask me how to keep going. Because I was in the same exact position they were in a few years ago, I tell them the truth: Anything worth having is not going to be easy and, if you want it, know it will take hard work.” Seeing Mikayla’s achievements, it’s clear the work pays off. She has not only achieved important goals for herself as a journalist, she is dedicated to forging a path to success for others. “All the hurdles I went through to get to where I am today make it possible for me to help girls who dream of their own careers in journalism.”
Through mentorship with PowHERful and through her own foundation, Mikayla is helping a new generation of journalists from diverse backgrounds find success in a highly competitive industry. For young women who are too often discouraged from pursuing their dreams, PowHERful mentors like Mikayla Newton make all the difference in the world.