Meet The Bellingham Herald’s new service reporter, Julia Hawkins
Hey there, Bellingham. My name is Julia Hawkins, and I’m the newest addition to The Bellingham Herald as a service journalism reporter.
I cover a lot of things across Washington State. You may have seen my stories on flood impacts, Washington’s Lottery and top local restaurants from Yelp reviews.
I was born in Mill Creek, Washington, and lived there until I was 18. I moved to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University and I got my degree in news/editorial journalism in June 2025. I joined the Herald on December 1, 2025. While this is my first professional job, I was the Editor-In-Chief of WWU’s The Planet Magazine before graduating.
As a reporter, I want to ensure that I’m serving my community by answering questions and concerns you may have about the area. Whatever it is, whether it’s about grocery prices, celebrations or events, please get in touch.
Here’s a little more about me.
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant spot in Bellingham?
A: I am a sucker for a good burger. I’ve gotta say, my favorite spot is Boomer’s Drive-In. It’s become a staple for me the longer I’ve been here. It’s a great spot to bring family or friends. Not only that, but it’s my personal favorite spot to treat myself after a difficult day.
Q: What makes working for The Bellingham Herald special?
A: For me, it’s all about the community. It’s one of the things that made me fall in love with the city in the first place. I think reporting on community events, shops and protests is what makes Bellingham, Bellingham — and getting to witness all of it and report on it has been the coolest opportunity for me. I’m a chatty Cathy (have been since birth), so I also love talking to community members and hearing what they want to see me do!
Q: What book are you reading right now? (Or what TV show/podcast are you really into right now?)
A: My New Year’s resolution has been to get back into reading. I just finished “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I loved it so much. I’m currently reading “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman. I haven’t gotten far yet, but I’m liking it so far! In terms of TV, three of my friends and I have been watching the TV show “School Spirits.” It’s very scary, but very worth it!
When I’m not reporting you can find me painting, playing video games with my roommate (hi Maggie) or watching Washington’s sports — particularly football, Go Hawks!
How to reach me
If you have any tips or stories ideas, feel free to reach out to me via email at jhawkins@bellinghamherald.com.
This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 9:58 AM.