In this edition of our Reporters on the Record series, we spoke with Nyela Graham, U.S. Senior Reporter at WatersTechnology.
In our conversation with Nyela, we learn about how a spontaneous opportunity led her into financial journalism, what keeps her curious in a complex industry, and why thoughtful, well-researched PR pitches make all the difference.
How did you get your start in financial journalism?
I got into this space by accident. I graduated from college in 2020 with a degree in multimedia journalism and had no idea what I wanted to do with my degree. I knew I wanted to work for a magazine and wanted to write long form, but that was really it. I went to college with my colleague Rebecca Natale, our European desk editor, and we had worked on the school paper together. She sent me a DM on Instagram in February 2020 and told me WatersTechnology was looking to hire. I knew nothing about finance or technology, and it was a bit daunting at first, but I love a challenge, and it was a good way to get my foot in the door of professional journalism. Four years later, I’m glad I took the dive because I’ve learned so much about areas of capital markets I didn’t know existed and I’m having a lot of fun.
Why do you find passion in journalism?
I’m the kind of person who finds themselves down a Wikipedia rabbit hole at 1 am, so I’m always interested in learning new things. I grew up watching the news with my parents whether it was 60 Minutes or the PBS News Hour, where a handful of topics were always covered. You can never know enough information in this world and overall, I think we are all better for it.
What is something in your journalism career that you are proud of?
I don’t think I have any singular accomplishment I can point to, but I am proud of how much I’ve been able to learn in the last 4 years. This space can be so complicated at times, and it can feel like untangling a long piece of string that has become all knotted when you are trying to understand something. One of my first stories for WatersTech was about the loan market and it took time to understand the intricacies of how the market operates because you want to be able to explain it to your readers. It can be clear as day when you don’t know what you are writing about, but patience and a little determination can go a long way.
What is your advice to those looking to get started in journalism/financial journalism?
No question is a stupid question. That was one thing that was said to me a lot at the beginning, and I thought it was just lip service, but it’s true. Particularly in fintech journalism, you are speaking with people who love what they do and are passionate about the systems and technology they are building. They want to talk about it with you, so they will answer all your questions, and it’s a great way to develop relationships with good sources.
From your perspective, how can public relations (PR) practitioners best craft engaging pitches?
One thing that grinds my gears a lot is when it is clear that the PR pitching me has not looked at what our publication covers or even what I’ve been writing about recently. A pitch that is irrelevant to our coverage doesn’t benefit me and it doesn’t benefit the person putting the pitch forward. A personalized pitch also stands out more from a copy and paste one and is more likely to grab my attention.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to read in my free time. Anything fiction or non-fiction is my speed, and I love mystery novels in particular. I’m also a die-hard sports fan with particular affinities for the New York Yankees and Seattle Seahawks. If I’m looking at my phone, I’m either scrolling Instagram or checking the score of the game.
