Editor’s note: This story originally said Johnson was a senior reporter, that has been corrected since she is actually a beat reporter.
Four years ago, Marcela Johnson walked into the newsroom of her hometown’s newspaper, the Silver City Daily Press, as a summer intern with little interest in journalism and an undeclared college major. Now, four years later, she is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism & mass communication with a distinction in Honors from the University of New Mexico.
Johnson has spent three of the last four years at the Daily Lobo as a reporter, making her way up to the beat reporter position. Beyond the Daily Lobo, she has served as the editor-in-chief of Limina: UNM Nonfiction Review, an Honors Pathmaker mentor and as a member of the Association for Jotería, Arts, Activism and Scholarship (AJAAS). Within each of her commitments, Johnson has demonstrated her deep devotion to community.
“Marcela is a brilliant and compassionate leader and brings that with her into whatever space she enters,” Reyes Reynaga, a friend of Johnson and member of AJAAS, said. “She has always been committed to her communities and is always receptive to deeper learning opportunities.”
Through her leadership, friendships, presence and news reporting, Johnson has spent her four years on campus showing up for those around her.
“My favorite thing about Marcela is that, even with so many responsibilities, she seriously prioritizes friendship and community,” Raychel Kool, the managing editor for Conceptions Southwest and friend of Johnson, said. “She never has too little time for her friends.”
Madi Hogans, who spent three years on the Limina staff alongside Johnson echoed these sentiments.
“Marcela has taught me that it's not just about making a space for yourself, but finding the people who make the space comfortable, enjoyable and worth fighting for,” Hogans said. “Community is what brings us strength and keeps us eternal.”
Part of Johnson’s constant commitment to community involved the prioritization of covering campus events while reporting for the Daily Lobo. Johnson covered a wide variety of campus happenings — ASUNM meetings, a visit from former Vice President Kamala Harris, recent research breakthroughs, various cultural events and the history of the Smith Family Totem Pole housed in UNM’s Hibben Center.
“Who else is going to write about UNM stuff other than the UNM student paper? If we don’t prioritize it, who will?” Johnson asked. “So for me, it was always really important to write about stuff going on directly at UNM.”
Now, Johnson takes her commitment to community back home to Silver City. Next month, she will return to the Silver City Daily Press — this time as part of the New Mexico Local News Fund yearlong fellowship program. She emphasized the importance of local coverage, especially in light of current national events.
“Yes, there are a lot of big things that need to get covered right now, but I don’t think that local coverage should be neglected in favor of these bigger issues,” Johnson said. “Smaller moments of joy are really important to cover too, and I am really excited to get to do this coverage for my community.”
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Katrina Estrada, a Daily Lobo alum and longtime friend of Johnson, has seen and experienced Johnson’s compassion from Silver City to Albuquerque.
“Marcela has the very magical ability to make any space she’s in safe and comfortable. She is one of the most thoughtful people I have ever met,” Estrada said. “Marcela has taught me many lessons in life. I love learning from her — I have learned the importance of community and home from her.”
Isaac Suarez Flint is a freelance reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
