Leah Horner wins 2017 Yoder Award

Leah Pezzetti Horner is a graduating senior from the journalism program at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. She finishes her degree in March then will be moving to Bakersfield, California to MMJ during the week and report weather on the weekends at 23ABC. In college, Leah was recognized with two scholarships from the Sacramento Press Club in 2015 and 2016. She’s also received various awards from the California College Media Association and the Pinnacle College Media Awards for Best Multimedia Story and Best Breaking News Coverage. Her internships include KCRA in Sacramento, CA, KSBY in San Luis Obispo, CA and WBOC in Salisbury, MD.

Leah has a passion for shooting, editing and writing, but most of all, storytelling. This passion was increased when she attended the NPPA News Video Workshop for her first time in 2016. Her goal is to be an MMJ forever and to tell stories in creative ways, like Joe Little. She strives to coin the term “pants reporter” because she is the type of MMJ to get on the ground or even climb things when shooting, and pants are necessary to be able to move.

When she’s not reporting, you can find Leah singing with her a cappella group, Take it SLO or exploring the many hikes in San Luis Obispo. She loves traveling and even had the chance to study abroad in Brighton, England for three months in 2015. While there, she reported on a protest against increasing university fees that circled Big Ben and Parliament, a highlight of her college career.