Today we’d like to introduce you to Cailley Formichella.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I first moved to LA, I came with a dream of being the best of the best in the hosting world – I dreamed of being Oprah. I started working as a producer for the top radio station in LA, and I was well on my way to reaching that goal when Trump won the Presidential election. I could no longer talk about Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber…
I mean, there were riots happening in the streets in cities all over the country, including here in LA. I couldn’t just avert my eyes, so I decided to use the broadcast journalism degree I had obtained just two years prior and go to work fighting Trump’s war on “fake news.”
I started SheShouldLead and started covering stories that mattered. The more I worked, the more I realized there were endless stories going untold. I left the radio station and began working as an activist and journalist full time. Today, I work freelance telling stories that need to be told and lifting stories that deserve to be amplified.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Is LA ever a smooth road? Is journalism? No. In fact, media industries are laying off employees left and right, and those are the people that can snag full-time jobs! I transitioned to freelance work when I entered back into the journalism field, and it’s been a whirlwind of stop and go and stop some more.
I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve always had enough gigs to pay the rent, but sometimes taking those gigs means I have to sacrifice creative control or story choice. Other times, gigs would end up not being what they seemed (it’s insane how much people think they can get away with not paying people out here).
Please tell us about SheShouldLead.
SheShouldLead is a feminist media outlet. We cover stories that matter that often go underreported. We use social media. A LOT to make sure important messages and calls to action are heard. We specialize in video news pieces but also written articles.
As the founder, I’m proud of the community that SheShouldLead has fostered. We have over 12k followers on social media, and it’s powerful to know that if we send out a call to call your senators, for example, (202) 224-3121 by the way, that we can encourage and inspire others to act.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Created more content! Time is money, and activism rarely pays, but passion is at the root of all change and more stories = more change and a louder voice!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SheShouldLead.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheshouldlead
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheShouldLead/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SheShouldLead/
Image Credit:
Amanda Zaeske @amandazaeske, Sara Fletcher @FletcherPhotography, Joel Marasigan @flashpointgraphix
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
