LAKE COUNTY ? Katy Sweeny joined the Record-Bee editorial department as staff writer this week.
Sweeny is a graduate of California State University, Chico. She holds bachelors degrees in journalism and Spanish.
Sweeny has been a news writer for both the Chico Enterprise-Record and the Appeal-Democrat in Marysville.
She is proud to have worked on the award winning, independent, student newspaper at California State University, Chico, The Orion, as news editor, news writer and videographer.
While in college she studied abroad in Granada, Spain for a year, which was easily one of the best experiences of her life. She traveled to a few European countries and Morocco. She honed her Spanish skills in Granada and is fluent in the language.
She enjoys writing stories that affect residents even if they don”t know it. “Human rights stories and hot-button issues intrigue me. I like writing crime and court articles because people generally want to know what happened and I think it”s important for them to know about those issues in their communities,” Sweeny said.
She also enjoys adding local angles to national issues. She said she likes writing human interest stories and features as well.
She looks forward to writing opinion columns at the Record-Bee.
“I”d also like to shoot and compile some videos,” Sweeny added.
She grew up in Galt, between Sacramento and Stockton. She didn”t play sports at Galt High School “because honestly I”m not very athletic, although some may think so when they look at me and pick me out of a line-up for their team,” she said.
She loves swimming in the ocean, lakes and rivers. Listening to a band play good live music is one of her favorite things. She likes reading, watching Grey”s Anatomy and talking politics with people who aren”t sources.
“I enjoy hanging out with my big, loud Irish family ? although none of us were born on the green isle,” she said.
She likes riding her bicycle around town.
She also likes potatoes, homegrown tomatoes and peaches, biscuits, cake and chocolate.
Dancing is also one of her favorite activities.
“I generally like non-structured dancing to popular music, but I also like ballroom dancing styles such as jazz and Arabic, which I have little experience with,” she said.
Sweeny brings a wealth of experience, a passion for news writing and fresh new ideas to Lake County Publishing.
Sweeny will be reporting on news on the north side of the county. The Record-Bee staff is proud to have her join the staff and welcomes her to Lake County.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
