Rising Stars: Meet Rosemary Wright

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosemary Wright.

Hi Rosemary, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today. 
I’m Rosemary, and I’m from Carmel by-the-Sea, CA. I spend my free time growing veggies, taking care of my many houseplants, and baking. One motto I live by is ‘This is not your practice life. This is all their is. I am in Delta Gamma Fraternity for Women, and I am a student of Dodge College of Film & Media Arts at Chapman University. I am majoring in Broadcast Journalism & Documentary with a minor in Political Science. 

I have dreamt of being an anchor-reporter ever since I was interviewed by my hometown’s local station and featured on the nightly news when I was just five years old. I would watch the recording my parents had taped of the interview over and over again. Now, the excitement of sitting on-scene waiting hours for a story to break and the sense of pride found in informing the public with integrity serve as motivation in my dream career. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey thus far has had many ups and downs. The pandemic was a hard time for everyone–mentally, financially, etc.– and I was not spared. Additionally, moving away from my hometown of to Southern California for school has been quite the transition. I am very close with my mother, and after she had a stroke in November of 2022, it was a difficult decision to leave Carmel. While starting my journey as a journalist has been rewarding, exciting, and surreal, it has also included bouts of self-doubt, and a few mistakes as I continue to learn all I can along the way. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I spent Fall of 2023 writing as a journalist for The Borgen Project magazine. There, I covered global issues affecting the world’s most vulnerable populations. Now, I am an independent journalist. A mentor and friend of mine, Michelle Pulfrey of FOX, told me to find a gap in the news and fill it. This was the best advice I could have received. I ask my community what they want to see covered, and I do my best to give them just that. I have received hundreds of story suggestions from Orange County residents through my website as I crowdsource ideas for local news stories through my following on websites like Nextdoor and X. Hard news/crime reporting is my main interest. As of late, I have spent my time writing about cold murder cases in my area as those in my community continue to reach out to me about the unsolved deaths of their loved ones. Currently, I am writing a story on a 1972 cold murder case after the victim’s family reached out to me in hopes I could draw attention to her case. Linda Smit was just 18 years old when she was found murdered in her apartment in Garden Grove. She had been strangled after her husband left for work. In November, she would’ve turned 70 and celebrated her 52nd marriage anniversary. Decades later, Linda’s family is still seeking justice. 

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Moving here from Carmel-by-the-Sea has been quite the transition. For me, home is a stagnant, subdued, sleepy beach town with 0 fast food or chain restaurants. Now, I’ve been exposed to life in a community I see as full of opportunity, buzz, and action. Life here is stimulating. As a journalist, I love that there is never any shortage of news! 

I am from an area of California known for our monarch population, state parks like Big Sur, and endless stargazing opportunities. As a result, some things I could do without are the light pollution, the constant noise of the highway all night, and traffic like I have never experienced before. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rosemarywrighttv.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosemarywrighttv
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosemarywriight
• Other: https://www.rosemarywrighttv.com/suggest-a-story

Image Credits
Zayd Milkias
Jack Bray