Meet The Bellingham Herald’s 2026 summer intern, Hailey LeRoy
Hey there! Hailey LeRoy here. I am elated to be The Bellingham Herald’s 2026 summer intern.
Brooding Floridian turned sunny Washingtonian, I moved here from Tampa to study environmental journalism at Western Washington University. Pursuing my degree led me to cover student employee strikes, university budget cuts, and statewide environmental politics. You’ll find my non-student bylines The Osprey Observer in Lithia, Florida, and Methow Valley News in Twisp, Wash.
A lifelong word nerd and a dedicated studier of journalistic style, I served as a copy editor for Western’s student-run newspaper, The Front, in the summer of 2025.
I’m not certain when in my life I decided to become a journalist. I do know that in fifth grade I participated in a field trip to Junior Achievement’s BizTown — a life-sized playground where children pretend to be adults and work for the day — and acted as the “Chief Editor” of “The Tampa Tribune.” What comes after gets blurry, but I ended my K-12 journey with years of student editorial experience and a fire for learning about the world that has yet to burn out.
Outside the newsroom, you can catch me as No. 24 on the track with the Bellingham Roller Betties, our community’s very own roller derby league. You’ll see me around dancing at Rumors Cabaret, usually during their monthly gothic night, and jumping off cliffs at Whatcom Falls Park. I look forward to serving a community that, since my cross-country move in 2022, has owned a chamber of my heart. Feel free to reach out with tips at hailey.leroy@bellinghamherald.com.