[Editor’s Note: Maddie Stoll is a native of London studying economics and public policy at the University of Chicago. She is wrapping up a reporting internship at GeekWire this week.]
I came to Seattle without a clear picture of what the summer internship would be like in Gikwa. I certainly don’t expect to start with a flashing light and a protest scene. My second day, I was running with the co-founder of Gikwaire Toad bishop Redmond campuses in Microsoft – Sirens everywhere, dozens of police cars.
A few minutes later, I was in the middle of a protest, noring my phone and a gikwire Laniard, fought alone with hypocrisy syndrome, caught someone handcuffs, welcomed on his back. At this point I realized that my internship would drop me directly to the deep end – and really, there was no better way to start.
From there, the speed was never slow. In a week, I was interviewing startup founders and writing about AI in schools; Next, I was learning to use a professional camera for the first time in the Microsoft former event, or watching houses floating in Lake Union. Seattle pulled me from the story to the story and frame frame.
Impression
I grew up in London, and now I study in Chicago. Both cities have shaped the feeling of my urban life: London, polished and cosmic; Chicago, bold and hassle, but the middle -west has softened in warmth. Seattle was new to me though. And I felt something different immediately by setting foot on it.
Seattle hit me as slower and more intrinsic than both London or Chicago, but each bit is ambitious. Its identity seems to be bound to technology and creativity, but equally with life: coffee, hiking, biking and ferry! The city seems to be discussing its global technology presence and its intimate, external character.
The little joke that you noticed once here is what I stood to me as an outsider. I heard about the so -called “Seattle Fries” and expected to feel it. Instead, I have found people’s friends than I imagined – even more open than London, even if not immediately warm as Chicago – and the interactions I felt kind and welcome.
It was a challenge to walk around without a car, but I was shocked to see how much I was walking and bike-friendly, which makes the city find out about and enjoyable.
Then there are more strong edges: visible homelessness and anxiety about crime, reminder of economic stresses that come with Seattle’s technology-powered boom. It is a city of innovation and growth, but in the opposite – where the glossy skyrocket and the tent can share the same block.
Nevertheless, despite this complexity, a city that seemed Seattle was still defining itself and a one that invited the image as ambition. For someone from the outside, the mix of conflict is interesting.
Journalism itself
Gikwire dropped me in the technical scene of Seattle from the very beginning. I had the opportunity to cover a huge range: AI, Startups Madroner created the IA 40 list in schools, innovating agricultural technology and even allen institute stem cells transmitted space into space. A few moments standing:
- Writing about the next chapter for AI in schools – exploring how education is embracing AI tools with care.
- Seattle’s traveling mathematics magician has revisited the aim of building a physical math museum for the city and how important the problem is still important in the AI era.
- Working with the reporter Lisa stiffler In my story about WSU’s strawberry-picking robot — it is an amazingly complex task for robots, using the puffs of the air to find the replace fruit! Lisa also walked me through his editing process in this story, which was interesting to look at.
- Interviews of Mikey and Anantika, Founder House founder-two students, both Seattle, who launched an all-mahila AI hacker house in San Francisco, to live young women, create startups and support each other during the city’s AI boom. It was especially inspiring to interview them because they are basically my age, yet re -shape what entrepreneurs can already see for technical women.
- Seattle Human Composting Funeral Home, Traveling With Reporter Re -Turing Cart scloser – An experience that highlights the range of the creativity of the technology and the covers of the subject of the subjects.
On the way, I am to break the Glass Cyling Women Leadership event with Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, to break the Glass Cyling Women Leadership event at the Microsoft Alumni Network Connect 2025 Event, starting from Microsoft President Brad Smith to Seattle Metro Chamber – HolySenior sales strategist Mia And the project manager Jessica ReevesAs well as Gikwire’s very own deck party.
Seatle
Work was half the story. Living in the Fremont Hostel gave me a front row seat to the surrounding vintage charm: in each corner, Thai food, Sunday’s market, endless coffee, and lime scooters glide the Burk-Gillman trail.
When I wasn’t in the frame, I was in the dog-bed in Queen Ann. In the walk with the co-founder Otis of Gikwaire Cook Brother, and the evening spent in the Kerry Park, I saw a quiet, neighbor-wi-wi-sight of Seattle, with some of the best scenes in the skyline.
And I tried to press as much as possible, highlights:
- Seeing the sunset at the Golden Garden.
- Travel on weekends in San Juan Islands.
- Hiking in Mount Reinier.
- Washington Park is roaming around in the Aroratem.
- Get lost in the glass in the chihuli museum.
- Seeing the Pacific from the Ocean.
- Exploring the Seattle Art Museum and especially its i Weiway exhibition.
- Bombarshot music festival soaked in the festival.
Hacks, snacks and AI
One of the most worrying and most useful parts of the internship was examining themselves in journalism with AI. Equipment Otter.ai Transcription Speed; Chatzipt reacts to my writing constructively, complementing alert performance by the editor of Gikwaire Taylor terraper; And Jessica’s “Hacks and Snacks” workshops showed me how AI could lighten the burden of administrative activities.
It was not just about learning the new technology strategy. It was about to create this culture of transparency around AI and recognition the industry I want to enter is already being re -shown. As this internship was displayed, the stories I kept covered and both the inner work of the Newsroom could not be ignored. It is here – as a challenge and a border where journalists need to constantly define and protect their craft.
To the end, my summer was felt like a collage: protests and panels, deadline and dogs, ferries and festivals. Seattle may be slower than London and easier than Chicago but it is as ambitious as it is every bit – and I felt that ambition in my day’s rhythm.
Thanks to each of the ways I have seen!