Fantaroni ’26 hopes to push reporting for Elon News Network outside campus limits.
When first joining Elon News Network, Anjolina Fantaroni ’26 was drawn in by two things: the people and the mentorship.
During Fantaroni’s first year at ENN, the mentorship she received allowed her to explore all sides of the organization – from photography, to design, to video – and she said she is grateful for those experiences, as they have given her the skills to step into her new role as executive director of ENN.
“Nobody was going to limit me,” Fantaroni said.
One of Fantaroni’s biggest mentors at ENN was Naomi Washington ’24, who now works for 13WMAZ-TV in Macon, Georgia.
“She really brought me into the person I am today in this organization,” Fantaroni said. “She made Elon News Network like a home to me, and now that’s kind of what I want to bring to other people.”
Fantaroni is striving to make sure every new member feels as comfortable at ENN as she does by encouraging older members to get a coffee or a meal with interested students and by familiarizing new members with every aspect of the organization, ensuring they are gaining essential skills and providing hands-on experiences.
“I think it’s really important for students to build those connections not only with Elon News Network, but with the community,” Fantaroni said.
And it’s the community outside Elon that also concerns Fantaroni. She wants ENN staff members to get involved off campus.
“We’re not just the campus,” Fantaroni said. “We’re the town of Elon, we’re Alamance County.”
Alamance County is considered a news desert, meaning residents have limited access to reliable local news. That gives ENN an opportunity to fill the void.
Fantaroni hopes to continue covering stories from the Alamance Burlington School System, the Burlington Police Department, and happenings in downtown Graham, Gibsonville and Mebane.
“The community looks to us, and I want to look to the community and produce the best work that we possibly can,” Fantaroni said.
During her interview for the position, Fantaroni said community was something that she mentioned frequently, partly because of how meaningful her relationships have been in her life.
“I would not have gotten to this point without all of their help,” Fantaroni said. “This organization means the world to me, and I’m really excited to see what next year has in store not only for me, but for everyone.”