Today we’d like to introduce you to Bree Steffen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I always knew I wanted to work with words and pictures. I went to school for journalism and visited San Diego when I was 21 years old on summer break. I knew from the moment I stepped foot in this city I wanted to come back and establish a life here! In 2015, I got a job at 10News and started putting down roots! After taking a break from local news to work as a videographer for San Diego Humane Society and start my own production company, I’m now working for Spectrum News as their science, sustainability, and conservation reporter. The station is based in Los Angeles, and I feel very lucky to be able to cover these important topics while still living in San Diego!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Local news is a rough industry, and 10News was really bad for my mental health (toxic workplace, bad bosses, etc.). After I was attacked during a live shot in 2018, I knew I needed to take a break and focus on healing. I quit my job and went to South Africa to pursue wildlife photography, with no real plan for when I returned to the states. It had such a powerful effect on my life, and I’m so glad I took the chance. It allowed me to re-set my priorities re-evaluate what I wanted from life, and what I would do to make it happen. Years later, I am happily working for Spectrum news with bosses who support and encourage me, doing stories that matter and enjoying a great work-life balance. The biggest thing I tell people is don’t settle for a job that makes you hate your life. You deserve to work for someone who values you.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a multimedia journalist for Spectrum News, which is basically a fancy way to say I shoot all my video, conduct all my own interviews, research, write, and edit all my own stories. It can be a lot of hard work, but having time to work on in-depth stories is very rewarding. I feel very honored to report on important topics like climate change, environmental and social issues, and sustainability and conservation.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I think the pandemic showed me how important it is to prioritize family and friends. I love my career, but at the end of the day, it is a job. Life is so short and fragile, and we should cherish the time we have with our loved ones while we have time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pausecreativecollective.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breesteffenstories/
Image Credits
Jennifer Regnier Photography
