Three Questions for Enjoyiana Nururdin

Name: Enjoyiana Nururdin

Title and Organization: Local Government Reporter, The Cap Times

Graduation Year and Degree: 2021 BA in Journalism

Enjoyiana Nururdin is a local government reporter for The Cap Times in Madison, Wisconsin. Born and raised in Madison, she studied reporting at the SJMC, where she was an active campus leader. Nururdin served as a Center for Academic Excellence Scholar, Managing Editor of The Black Voice and a contributor to the Black History Month Planning Committee. She also studied abroad in Botswana and was a part of the university’s Residence Life team.

After earning her BA in Journalism in 2021, Nururdin pursued her graduate studies at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, earning an MA in Politics. With plans to pursue a Ph.D. in the future, her academic and professional interests center on political theory, Black American history, race and human interest storytelling. In this Q&A, she reflects on the values that drive her reporting, offers advice for aspiring journalists and shares the lessons she learned at the SJMC.

When it comes to your professional accomplishments, what are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of my dedication to following my human interests and personal passions through creative, accountable and powerful journalism. I care about the impact of politics, but not in the sense that folks might always immediately associate with journalism or reporting. I appreciate elements of intersectional scholarship and analysis I was able to strengthen in college that as a young, Black woman, and journalist I’m able to incorporate into my reporting and professional work.

What’s the best advice you have for an SJMC student who wants to do what you do?

Stay curious and determined to preserve humanity in your work! Be willing to fall into the rabbit hole to discover the truth, however that looks. Be courageous and respectful when challenging the dominating narratives especially when it comes to honoring the truth of the disenfranchised or underrepresented. Be in love with what you do!

What is your favorite SJMC memory?

Surviving the Great Flood of Vilas when I started in the spring of 2019 and winning the legendary J202 Tompkins Cup that same year! I still think about our personalized mental health platform, mindfulness resource guide and subscription box for college-age students, Optimum Mentality. I appreciated being able to tap into strategic communications for a little while as part of the pitch team. If any investors are reading this, you know who to call!