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| Hilde Lysiak: 'Just because I’m nine doesn’t mean I can’t do a great story' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The words “child scoop” usually call to mind ice cream. But in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, they are more likely to refer to Hilde Kate Lysiak, a nine-year-old girl whose dedication as a cub reporter and a resulting storm of criticism have caused her own story to go viral. | The words “child scoop” usually call to mind ice cream. But in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, they are more likely to refer to Hilde Kate Lysiak, a nine-year-old girl whose dedication as a cub reporter and a resulting storm of criticism have caused her own story to go viral. |
| Now Hilde has hit back at her critics – including those who said she should stick to “playing with dolls” and tea parties – in an article for the Guardian, writing: “Yes, I am a nine-year-old girl. But I’m a reporter first … Kids should know that if they work hard they can do amazing things.” | Now Hilde has hit back at her critics – including those who said she should stick to “playing with dolls” and tea parties – in an article for the Guardian, writing: “Yes, I am a nine-year-old girl. But I’m a reporter first … Kids should know that if they work hard they can do amazing things.” |
| Hilde sparked a sensation with her news website about her small Pennsylvania town, Orange Street News, after she rushed to report a gruesome suspected murder in her neighbourhood over the weekend. | Hilde sparked a sensation with her news website about her small Pennsylvania town, Orange Street News, after she rushed to report a gruesome suspected murder in her neighbourhood over the weekend. |
| She claims she was on the scene “hours before” any other media outlets were reporting the story, after she received a tip and talked to the police and neighbours. | She claims she was on the scene “hours before” any other media outlets were reporting the story, after she received a tip and talked to the police and neighbours. |
| Hilde posted a story and video clip on her website later that day under the headline: “Exclusive: murder on Ninth Street!”. | Hilde posted a story and video clip on her website later that day under the headline: “Exclusive: murder on Ninth Street!”. |
| Her story said a man was suspected of killing his wife with a hammer and included quotes from neighbours and police. | Her story said a man was suspected of killing his wife with a hammer and included quotes from neighbours and police. |
| In her video report she goes “on air” in confident style. “It’s Hilde Kate Lysiak, reporting from the Orange Street News, where a man suspectedly murdered his wife with a hammer. I’m working hard on this ongoing investigation,” she said. | In her video report she goes “on air” in confident style. “It’s Hilde Kate Lysiak, reporting from the Orange Street News, where a man suspectedly murdered his wife with a hammer. I’m working hard on this ongoing investigation,” she said. |
| But soon after, her Facebook page and YouTube channel were clogged with negative comments urging her to “play with dolls” and have a tea party instead, questioning her parents’ judgment in letting her take up a hobby – crime reporting – normally the preserve of professional, trained journalists. | But soon after, her Facebook page and YouTube channel were clogged with negative comments urging her to “play with dolls” and have a tea party instead, questioning her parents’ judgment in letting her take up a hobby – crime reporting – normally the preserve of professional, trained journalists. |
| But Hilde said in her article for the Guardian: “My story went viral this week when I responded to residents in my town who were upset that I was reporting on a serious crime, rather than doing – well, whatever it is they think nine-year-old girls should be doing.” | But Hilde said in her article for the Guardian: “My story went viral this week when I responded to residents in my town who were upset that I was reporting on a serious crime, rather than doing – well, whatever it is they think nine-year-old girls should be doing.” |
| Hilde writes that she “acted on a tip from a good source”, then talked to the police department and “went straight to the scene”. | Hilde writes that she “acted on a tip from a good source”, then talked to the police department and “went straight to the scene”. |
| She added that she kept the people of the town informed “hours before my competition even got to the scene” and claimed that the police told other media not to report the story. | She added that she kept the people of the town informed “hours before my competition even got to the scene” and claimed that the police told other media not to report the story. |
| The Guardian has sought comment from Selinsgrove’s police chief, Thomas Garlock, but the department did not respond to the request. The editor of local newspaper the Daily Item, Dennis Lyons, declined to comment. | The Guardian has sought comment from Selinsgrove’s police chief, Thomas Garlock, but the department did not respond to the request. The editor of local newspaper the Daily Item, Dennis Lyons, declined to comment. |
| Some online critics of Hilde told her they found her reporting – which she began publishing online in 2014 with the help of her father, a former New York Daily News reporter – offensive. | Some online critics of Hilde told her they found her reporting – which she began publishing online in 2014 with the help of her father, a former New York Daily News reporter – offensive. |
| In her own video response to critics on Tuesday, Hilde said: “It kind of gets me angry because, just because I’m nine doesn’t mean I can’t do a great story,” she said. “It doesn’t mean I can’t be a reporter.” | In her own video response to critics on Tuesday, Hilde said: “It kind of gets me angry because, just because I’m nine doesn’t mean I can’t do a great story,” she said. “It doesn’t mean I can’t be a reporter.” |
| In the Guardian, she railed against adults telling ambitious children what to do. | In the Guardian, she railed against adults telling ambitious children what to do. |
| “I don’t think people should be able to decide for me who I should be and what I should be doing. I never began my newspaper so that people would think I was cute. I started the Orange Street News to give people the information they need to know. | “I don’t think people should be able to decide for me who I should be and what I should be doing. I never began my newspaper so that people would think I was cute. I started the Orange Street News to give people the information they need to know. |
| “I want to be taken seriously. I’m sure other kids do, too,” she said. | “I want to be taken seriously. I’m sure other kids do, too,” she said. |