Editor’s note: This article is a special feature for the Tufts Daily Alumni Newsletter that does not represent the Daily’s standard journalistic practices.
Ryan Shaffer (LA’21) is a news reporter at Public Radio East, the NPR affiliate in New Bern, N.C. As the only full-time news reporter for the station, Ryan covers everything from local events to the environment to city government — and enjoys it. While at the Daily, Ryan served as executive copy editor, executive features editor and audio editor, as well as editor in chief during the spring 2020 semester. In his downtime, Ryan likes to quilt and spend time with his fiancée and two cats.
In the spirit of our podcast “My Daily Story,” we’d like to start by asking — what’s your Daily story?
My story, though a bit chaotic, is filled with wonderful people and memories. I joined the Daily kinda late. As a first-generation student leaving my family in Arkansas, I chose to put off extracurriculars until I got my bearings. It wasn’t until my sophomore year I joined the copy and news sections, each led by very talented, one-of-a-kind editors (Danny Nelson in News and David Levitsky and Luke Allocco in Copy). It was a trial-and-error process for me, submitting articles and receiving heavy edits. But I learned to write and report like a journalist. As editor in chief, I had the privilege of leading a very courageous and driven Daily staff that chose not to forgo its responsibility during the early stages of the pandemic. Our coverage at the time kept up with daily changes to health measures and the status of the pandemic, while also documenting disruptions to student life. While my tenure did go as I had expected, I entered with the vision of the Daily as a “small-town newspaper” that serves as a bulletin board of sorts and connects people to news and events across campus and into Medford/Somerville, and I feel we had done just that.
You’re only three years out of graduation. Tell us a little bit about your transition into a full-time career. Did your time at the Daily prepare you for what came next?
The transition was not easy, and, to be frank, is a bit of a sore spot. I left Tufts wanting to explore other fields, and after trying my hand at education and seeking out opportunities in local government/higher education, I decided to cast my net as wide as possible. There were many disappointments, rejections and screw-ups, and I began wondering how I was ever going to get my start.
I joined Public Radio East in late 2022. I love NPR and have an immense appreciation for the work of local stations, so being a part of PRE is a natural fit. That does not mean it is easy. We are a small staff, with only so many hours in the day to write, record and produce, so it takes discipline to discern what will pique listeners’ attention and to keep up with events across eastern North Carolina. The Daily taught me to do just that. The Daily taught me to dive deep into issues and to ask intimate questions, so that I can put together engaging stories that both inform and entertain.
What does a typical day look like at Public Radio East? What have you learned in the process about reporting in smaller markets?
Considering we are a small staff covering a broad geographic area, I think you really have to sit down and think about not only what you bring to the table but also what you’re there to do. I think some of my best pieces at PRE connect listeners to the region’s culture and history. I enjoy these stories. They’re personal, intimate and create a deeper understanding of and appreciation for this unique corner of the world. But I also know I must report on important news events that have a quick turnaround time and require my full attention. These are two different styles of reporting. It’s why most newspapers have a news and a features section. I am fortunate to do both, though it is a juggling act.
Are there any stories you’ve covered that stand out or stick with you?
My favorite stories so far have to do with the region’s culture and history. In a piece about Dick Knight, a trumpet player who’s performed with James Brown, I took listeners to the local library where the jazz/funk legend put on a free concert. The story is filled with live music, people’s memories, and Knight sharing why at 80 years old he’s still performing. (He said, “I don't like no water. I don't like no whiskey. I don't like women too much no more. I love music.”) In an interview with Charlie Albertson, I explore his career as a country musician and as a Democratic state senator from rural NC. Lastly, I put together a piece about Hannah Crafts, the nation’s first Black female novelist, who began writing her epic as an enslaved woman in eastern North Carolina. In it, I speak with the man who confirmed Crafts’ identity and later wrote a biography of her, as well as scholars in Black literature and local historians.
Some of Shaffer’s favorite photos taken on the job: a mother/son beekeeping duo, the sky during a wildfire at the Croatan National Forest, Wings Over Wayne at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Dick Knight performing. (All photos courtesy Ryan Shaffer)
You were editor in chief in spring 2020, during the onset of COVID-19. Take us back to that time — what do you remember most? What are your biggest takeaways?
The first memory that comes to mind is laying out the paper the day we got the news that Tufts was closing its campus to students after spring break. We felt it coming because other schools had recently done the same, so we had plans in place for how the Daily would operate if it happened, but laying out the paper, for what would likely be the final print issue of the semester, was a scramble. At first we laid it out like any other paper, but it dawned on each of us there that night the magnitude of the moment. So we spent a good while figuring out what the hammer would be, and when the news exec (Robert Kaplan) threw out “COVID-19 Shutters Campus” we knew that was the one. The days that followed were filled with emotion. Many of the seniors were forced to say premature goodbyes and everyone was unsure how the semester would play out.
My biggest takeaway comes in the aftermath of that decision. The grit and dedication exhibited by the Daily staff is unparalleled, and some of our best reports, I believe, arise from that time in the Daily’s history.
To end on a happier note: Earlier that semester, you led the Daily’s 40th Anniversary celebrations. What do you hope the next 40 years will have in store for our paper?
It was an honor to lead the Daily during that time, and I have to credit the success of the celebration to Lexi Serino and Luke Allocco, the outreach coordinators. Forty years is quite an achievement, especially for a small, independent daily. A lot changed during those decades. From slipping the first print issues under dorm room doors to the hard-hitting investigative reports of “Dark Money at Tufts,” I know there will always be more the Daily has to offer.
