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Callie Holtermann has a natural curiosity about what members of Gen Z — young people born between 1997 and 2012 — are thinking about.
After all, Ms. Holtermann, born in 1997, is close in age to some of them herself.
“The paper, I think, benefits when it takes the voices and struggles and ideas of young people seriously,” said Ms. Holtermann, 28, who joined The New York Times as a news assistant in 2020.
During her first three years at the newspaper, she wrote articles about fans who took New Jersey Transit to a Beyoncé concert, why we brand the summer and what it’s like to be an assistant to the ultrawealthy. She was promoted to a reporter on the Styles desk in 2023, covering breaking news and trends.
In recent months, she has written about how subway surfing content spreads online; decoded the tween inside joke around the phrase “6-7”; and profiled Hope Walz, the 24-year-old daughter of Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota.
“I try to do my job just by talking to as many young people as I can about what is actually going on in their lives,” said Ms. Holtermann, whose beat now includes pop culture and technology.
In a recent interview, she shared how chats with friends inspire articles and the strangest item she’s expensed as part of her reporting. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
How would you describe your beat?
I write about how young people are living today. Sometimes that involves writing about big news, like an election or a wildfire — I’m usually trying to jump in and understand how it’s affecting high schoolers or recent graduates. But I also write trend pieces and other stories about the unexpected things that teenagers and people in their early 20s are doing.
Where do you find your story ideas?
Talking to friends, or on social media. But a lot of the time, when I’m interviewing a young person for one story, I’ll ask them: What else are you paying attention to right now? What is the thing that you and your friends are all talking about?
Does it help to be the same age as the people you’re covering?
I often think of myself as a translator between a subject and a New York Times reader who might not have a Gen Z-er in their life. And yet, it’s tricky: You need to be able to write about something that wouldn’t be cringe-y for a 16-year-old to read, but also not totally baffling for an older reader. I’m always trying to find that midpoint where the things I write can be accessible and genuinely interesting for everyone.
You studied political science at the University of Pennsylvania. How has that experience been helpful in your reporting?
The overlap between young people and politics has been huge this year, especially in the wake of the 2024 election. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to young people — especially men in their late teens and early 20s — who were really drawn to Trump. I really like talking to younger teenagers about their political beliefs, which start developing long before they’re able to vote.
What does your social media diet look like?
It’s probably 40 to 50 percent TikTok, and the rest is Instagram, X and Reddit. I also pay attention to YouTube and the podcast worlds.
There’s also a darker side to covering a beat that involves being so online. What precautions do you take?
I’m pretty judicious with my own presence online. My personal social media profiles are private, and I do my best to limit scrolling outside of work. I do try to make sure that people can get in touch with me if they have an idea that they want to share or talk through.
I also try to get out in the world — to be in person with the people I cover and understand what’s going on in their lives. This summer, for example, I reported from Montana, London and Long Island. Because if you’re only paying attention to how people present themselves online, you’re likely to miss some of the story.
OK, time for a speed round.
I’m ready!
I usually wear ankle socks.
Do you own a pair of Crocs?
I do not, but I did once. I do own a pair of Merrell Jungle Mocs, which are better in every way.
Are you aging like milk?
Decline to comment.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever expensed for an assignment?
I did a story for Styles in 2023 during Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, when she performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. A lot of fans were coming from New York, and a photographer, Amir Hamja, and I rode NJ Transit back and forth between Midtown Manhattan and the Meadowlands all night talking to them. We expensed something like six consecutive tickets between Secaucus and Penn Station. I had to write a note with my expense report explaining why I had bought the same ticket six times.
Sarah Bahr writes about culture and style for The Times.
The post She Knows What Gen Z Is Thinking appeared first on New York Times.
