Stories to Keep You Inspired on the State

Every year, LOOKOUT trains community members with little to no journalism experience in the basics of reporting, ethics, and writing. Over the course of one month, participants learn how to conduct interviews, gather information, and produce a journalistically sound Q&A. We call it "Reporting as Resistance."

This Spring, 10 people across Arizona participated and finished the program. They learned how to interview with empathy and curiosity, spot bias and sway in social media along their own writing, and edit with ethical and legal reasoning.

The following three stories were selected from the Spring 2026 cohort. You can also catch these stories in our Summer 2026 print edition of LOOKOUT Magazine.

At This Phoenix Crepe Shop, Politics Are Always on the Menu

The family-run Olla Olla Crepes turned its downtown space into a music venue and mutual aid hub

LOOKOUTMcKinlee Madison Mers (she/her)

DragU Downtown Returns, and So Does the Crowd

Following a controversial 2025 cancellation, Arizona State University’s drag education event came back to the downtown Phoenix campus this spring, reclaiming a space for performance, learning and LGBTQ+ community.

LOOKOUTBen Haynes (he/him)

On the Front Lines With Valley Street Medics

Volunteer teams are providing care at protests where heat, age and political tension collide.

LOOKOUTJack Fernandez (he/him)

The next "Reporting as Resistance" training will be in the Fall of 2026.