From COM to Career: Q&A With Investigative Journalist K. Sophie Will, BS Journalism

COM: Why did you choose COM?

K. Sophie Will: I was a girl from a small town in Utah, and I’ve always loved writing. I didn’t really consider doing it as a profession until my senior year of high school. I thought I was supposed to do business—that was what I was going to do. However, I took a chance because I wanted to get out of small-town Utah, and I had always dreamt of living in New England. I did some research into colleges and was attracted to BU because its campus seemed pretty central to a lot of things that interested me. Also, it had one of the top journalism programs in the country. I liked the idea of going out to write my own stories and gaining experience in the field while in the classroom. I was also really attracted to the faculty and their caliber. They held positions that I wanted to achieve one day, and everything just made sense. So, I decided on COM and applied early decision. I only applied to one college, which was gutsy, but I’m really glad that I did. I received excellent scholarships that made it easy to accept, and without them, I wouldn’t have been able to attend.

COM: What was your experience like visiting BU before you committed?

K. Sophie Will: I had never visited BU before I committed, but after I committed, I got to visit, and it just felt right. The culture and vibe, going from a small town to being a girl in the big city, was really important to me.

COM: What was the most memorable thing about your time at BU?

K. Sophie Will: One of the first big things that happened to me as a journalism student was being told by one of my professors that (actor) Ryan Reynolds was going to be at the Hasty Pudding Awards at Harvard. It would count as an assignment or maybe extra credit, and I was like, “I’ll go.” It was absolutely crazy. I was maybe 18 or 19, and I was feet away from Ryan Reynolds. I pitched it to the Daily Free Press (campus newspaper), and it was my first press conference. I remember saying, “Hi, Ryan. My name is Sophie. I’m with the Daily Free Press,” and he responded, “Hi, Sophie!” That was so cool. Afterward, I sat on the floor and wrote my story, and as I walked outside onto the Harvard campus, I thought, “Oh my God! I made it. I’m a journalist!” It was an adrenaline rush that became addictive. Later, one of my professors took me under her wing and introduced me to more long-form journalism, which really steered my career because I got burnt out from the quick-hit stuff.

COM: What specific skills did you gain at COM that were helpful in finding your first job?

K. Sophie Will: The most helpful thing was getting clips— published articles that showcased my news-gathering ability, writing ability, and data analysis. Journalism is all about knowing people. It’s about being a people person, even if you’re an introvert. Learning to network, get your foot in the door, and put yourself out there is crucial. Being comfortable doing cold calls or person-on-the-street interviews is important. I had those networking abilities, but I really honed them in college. College provided me with opportunities to meet new people, mentors, and sources. Working closely with the faculty helped me bridge the gap to gain real-world experience and connections. I still keep in touch with several of them today.

COM: Were there specific professors who had a big impact on you?

K. Sophie Will: Yes, Brooke Williams taught my sophomore intro journalism class. On my first day in that class, I showed interest in investigative work, and she pulled me aside after class and asked, “have you ever heard of investigative data journalism?” I replied, “No, what’s that?” I had expressed my interest in research, and she helped introduce me to the tools I needed to learn and people I needed to meet. She mentored me throughout college and has continued to guide my career. We still keep in touch, and I meet up with her at an annual conference called NICAR (National Institute for Computer Assisted Reporting).

COM: Can you explain data-driven journalism?

K. Sophie Will: Data-driven journalism bridges computer science and journalism. I take data from the government—whether that’s a table they’ve made or a bunch of records – or even private information, and find patterns in that data to hold people and systems accountable. While journalism is important for individual stories, revealing systemic problems increases the chance of impact. It’s fulfilling to give people a voice and hold those who do wrong accountable for their actions.

COM: Did you take any classes outside of COM that impacted you?

K. Sophie Will: Yes, I took a computer science 101 class when I decided to pursue data journalism. I struggled significantly and even got an email from my professor after the midterm inviting me to withdraw from the class. I did, thinking my career in data journalism was over, but I now code every day. I learned that it made more sense to learn on my own through journalism. I also minored in Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies, which at the time was one of the only programs of its kind. I used to wonder how it related to journalism, but knowing how human rights abuses happen and recognizing patterns have helped me ask pointed and impactful questions in my professional life.

COM: Did you have a moment when you realized you chose the right college path?

K. Sophie Will: I think it came pretty early and was affirmed repeatedly throughout my assignments. I fully realized that investigative data journalism was for me when I took a course with Jenifer McKim. We conducted an investigation into deaths in prison, and the process of finding records, analyzing them, talking with affected people and seeing the impact it had—garnering an FBI hate crime investigation—made me feel that this was the right path for me. It fit me perfectly, especially compared to covering celebrities or breaking news, which I found exhausting.

COM: What piece of career advice would you give someone considering this profession?

K. Sophie Will: Get really comfortable with embarrassing yourself. Communications is all about putting yourself out there and creating relationships. That requires a lot of failing, being awkward, networking, and being brave. Learning how to network and being secure in yourself is the most important thing. I faced skepticism about my dreams of being an investigative data journalist, but I focused on my goals and put in the hard work. I learned to be confident in my talents and dreams, to be adaptable, and to embrace failure to achieve what I wanted.

COM: Have you embraced being a DC sports fan, or do you remain loyal to your hometown teams?

K. Sophie Will: I go to Nationals games occasionally, but they’re always disappointing, so I stay loyal to my Red Sox. You can’t live that close to Fenway Park for four years and not be a fan!