Marta Saiz
(She/Her)
Barcelona
As seen in:
El País,
El Diario,
The Christian Science Monitor,
Público (Spain),
La Marea,
Periodismo,
Píkara Magazine,
Directa Distribution,
Distintas Latitudes,
Revista 5W
and
Covers:
Human rights, environmental issues, migration, drug policy, and conflict reporting
Periodista freelance | Reportera independiente especializada en temas sobre derechos humanos.
Interview
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. I actually learned to type on a typewriter in typing classes, and I still keep it at home.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be a journalist means being curious, listening carefully, asking uncomfortable questions, and trying to understand what lies behind the facts. It also means taking responsibility for how we tell other people’s stories by providing context, verifying information, and reporting with respect.
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist because I believe journalism can be a catalyst for social change. For me, it means telling stories ethically, providing context, explaining where events come from, and putting people at the center—especially those whose rights and lives are affected by different forms of inequality and vulnerability. Journalism is also a way of understanding how the world works and, hopefully, contributing to making it a fairer place. That requires rigorous reporting: listening carefully, working with data, verifying information, and questioning assumptions rather than simply reproducing dominant narratives.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
My high school didn’t have a newspaper, but I did work at my university’s radio station, where I got some of my first real experience in journalism. Until then, my broadcasting career had consisted mostly of hosting imaginary radio shows from my bedroom.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be patient, listen carefully, and learn from journalists whose work you admire. Stay curious, stay humble, and be ethical and respectful with the people whose stories you tell. For freelancers especially, precarious working conditions can be part of the job, so it’s also important to set boundaries and take care of your mental health.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.