Emma Pettit

What I Do

I’m a senior reporter at Longview.

Before that, I was a senior reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education, where I wrote about many things — chiefly, how political ideas and actors intersected with college campuses. And before that, I was a breaking news and county government reporter at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where I covered crime, the courts, and the occasional cornbread festival.

My work has been recognized by the Education Writers Association and the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

At Longview, I try to explore many viewpoints in the course of reporting a story. I do this, in part, by approaching both the people I interview and the topics I’m digging into with openness and curiosity rather than dismissiveness. It’s only by observing a debate from different angles that I feel I can see it clearly.

I like to have fun in my work, too. I once reported on a university’s puppetry major and spent a couple of days manhandling felt. One of my favorite stories is about a professor who moonlights as a reality television star on The Real Housewives of Potomac — a show I never miss.

My Background

I was raised in Nebraska and Colorado. I attended Villanova University, where I studied English and political science and played on the varsity volleyball team. Now, I live in Washington, D.C., an underrated metropolis.

I became a journalist because I’m good with deadlines and bad with monotony. My dad also had something to do with it. Growing up, he’d ask me to come up with metaphors for the moon on our early-morning drives.

My Ethics

I believe in demystifying the reporting process. If you’ve never spoken with a journalist before, or you aren’t sure what I’m looking for, I’m happy to get on the phone and answer whatever questions you have.

Contact Me

If you have a story to tell — whether serious or lighthearted — please get in touch. My email address is emma@longview.report. I’m also on Signal at emmapettit.31.

You can follow me on X @EmmaJanePettit.