Meet Canton Repository reporter Cassandra Nist
Local journalism requires local journalists. Every couple of weeks, we will spotlight Canton Repository staff members who serve the Stark County community.
I'm Cassandra Nist, a Stark County native and Canton Central Catholic alumna who spent more than a dozen years working in Cleveland broadcast news. I joined the Canton Repository in 2021, covering high profile court cases and major news throughout the region.
Why I became a journalist
I remember as a kid I was always turning on the television and opening up the newspaper to see what was going on, who won their Friday night football games, and all the local news in my community.
My love for consuming news grew into a career path. I was addicted to it ... plain and simple. I worked in radio for a while, then transitioned to broadcast news after college, and now back in my community where it all started for me.
We need clear, timely, and accurate information as quickly as it can be delivered. I've always been fascinated by the news, across all platforms.
What I like most about my job
Covering court cases, I see a variety of content. Most of the high profile cases are crime and grime, or outrageous. They can be hard to digest, and I like to break them down for our subscribers. I want to bring the courtroom to life through my reports. Not everyone has the ability to be present in courtrooms, and I enjoy bringing these cases to our readers on a weekly basis.
With major breaking news, I like to take a look at the whole picture and see what content can be added to keep our reports fair and balanced for our subscribers. I am a seasoned hard news, investigative news reporter and I enjoy opening up reports to multiple angles to see all sides.
My favorite story or stories I've worked on
This is a tough one to pin down. I've covered wild, horrific, and some entertaining content.
In a little over a year with the Canton Repository, I've held the powerful accountable, I've done some deep dives on senseless violence with innocent young lives lost at the hands of their loved ones. ... I wouldn't call any of them my favorites, but these reports as I call them as opposed to stories needed to be written and told.
The biggest challenge I face
Switching from broadcast news to print was a whole new ballgame. Writing styles alone, I think my editors would agree that's my biggest challenge. I admire my coworkers and how beautifully written their content is on a weekly basis.
I always try to write straight down the middle.
I have a digital first mindset, so you'll typically see my social media posting ahead of my reports, and I try to work in video as much as possible to help evolve our digital coverage and bring fresh content to our subscribers.
What I like to do when I'm not working
I am all family, all the time. If I'm not working, I'm usually traveling or at a sporting event somewhere. I also enjoy a good Netflix or Amazon Prime series when there's down time — but that's few and far between!
How to reach me
You can reach me at cnist@gannett.com; follow on Twitter @Cassienist; or by phone at 330-580-8338.
Consider subscribing to The Repository
To support Cassandra's work and all of the essential local journalism The Repository does, go to CantonRep.com/subscribenow.
Meet more staff members
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Meet Canton Repository reporter Cassandra Nist
