Neighbors to young reporter: ‘Go play with dolls’

Where do good reporters come from?

If you’re Katie Lysiak, the answer is Selinsgrove, Pa., where she runs the impressive Orange Street News website, which today has details of efforts to silence public input at a local government board, a murder on a nearby street, and the arrest of a vandal who’s been stealing plants. She’s also written about the drug problem in a middle school.

For just $14.99 a year, you get all the news you can stand.

Did I mention Lysiak is 9 years old?

“I just like letting people know all the information,” Hilde, the daughter of a former New York Daily News reporter, told the Washington Post.

A cute story? Maybe. But here’s the part that isn’t so cute. Because she’s a kid and a female, she’s getting online hate on her YouTube channel and Facebook page. People have told her she should go play with dolls.

So this week she answered her critics with a video blast.

“I know this makes some of you uncomfortable,” she said. “And I know some of you just want me to sit down and be quiet because I’m 9. But if you want me to stop covering news, then you get off your computer and do something about it. There, is that cute enough for you?”

Tough as nails, that one. Hurry up, kid. The news media needs you.

(h/t: Scott Olstad)