Chips Quinn Reporter Spotlight: Tayeba Hussein
Posting: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tayeba Hussein, a breaking news reporter for the Fort Myers News-Press and Naples Daily News, approaches journalism with urgency, care and a deep sense of responsibility to the communities she serves. As a first-generation South Asian American, Hussein brings lived experience and strong reporting instincts to stories that examine immigration, public safety, criminal justice and the environment at the local level.
Hussein grew up in Southwest Florida as the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants, navigating cultural expectations that emphasized careers in medicine, law or engineering. She entered college pursuing nursing, but quickly realized it was not the right path. What became clear early on was her strength in writing and her desire to help others through it. Journalism offered a way to combine both. “I knew I wanted to use my best skill, writing, to help others,” Hussein says. Acting as a voice for people who are often overlooked has become her primary motivation. That sense of purpose continues to guide her work and her career decisions.
Tayeba Hussein
Chips Quinn Reporter
While college provided a foundation, Hussein credits her internships as the most influential training she has received. Reporting roles at the Orlando Sentinel and later the Fort Myers News-Press introduced her to the realities of professional journalism. Being in the field, responding to breaking news and building relationships with sources helped her develop confidence and adaptability.
“Learning in a classroom is one thing, but being at the scene of the story or face-to-face with a source is entirely different,” she says. Those experiences sharpened her reporting skills and reinforced her commitment to on-the-ground journalism.
Hussein in court. (Photo by News-Press photographer Ricardo Rolon)
Hussein is most passionate about covering underrepresented communities and issues with direct local impact. Her reporting frequently focuses on immigration, environmental concerns, criminal justice and public safety. She is drawn to these topics because of how deeply they affect people’s daily lives and because of the trust sources place in her when sharing their experiences.
The emotional weight of these stories is not something she shies away from. She believes the sentiments shared by sources are powerful and deserve careful, accurate reporting. Her approach balances speed and sensitivity, particularly when covering breaking news that has long-term consequences.
One recent project Hussein is especially proud of examined immigration enforcement in Bonita Springs, a city that has experienced multiple ICE raids. Her reporting addressed the fear and uncertainty that spread through the community as rumors circulated and families faced the real consequences of federal immigration policies. By grounding the story in firsthand accounts, Hussein helped clarify what was happening and why it mattered to residents. The project underscored her ability to report on complex, emotionally charged issues with clarity and care.
Why Join the Chips Quinn Fellowship?
Hussein applied to the Chips Quinn Fellowship at a moment when she was beginning to think seriously about long-term career direction. Like many early-career reporters, she felt both excitement and anxiety about the uncertainty of the profession. She saw the fellowship as an opportunity to build confidence, learn from experienced journalists and connect with peers navigating similar challenges. Collaborating with fellow reporters and receiving mentorship from senior journalists appealed to Hussein as a way to better understand what growth can look like at this stage of her career.
Through the program, Hussein hopes to gain clarity about next steps and develop strategies for advancing her work. She is particularly interested in learning best practices from veteran reporters and applying those lessons to her own reporting. Expanding her professional network is also a priority, as she recognizes the importance of relationships in journalism.
Hussein aspires to continue developing her skills with the long-term goal of reporting at the national level, while staying grounded in the kind of community-focused reporting that drew her to journalism in the first place.
Photo by News-Press photographer Jonah Hinebaugh
Advice for Aspiring Journalists
Hussein’s advice is rooted in curiosity. She encourages aspiring journalists to ask questions constantly and to never be afraid of asking why or how. “There is a story in everyone,” she says. That mindset has shaped her reporting and helped her uncover stories that might otherwise go untold.
Message from her mentor:
“Tayeba’s curiosity, creativity, and commitment to journalism has saturated all our conversations. She continues to push herself and is working hard to set herself up for a long and successful journalism career.”
Michael Feeley
Executive Editor
Started by Freedom Forum, the original Chips Quinn program helped put college interns into newsrooms across the country. Since its beginnings in 1991, the program has reached more than 1,400 people, many of whom are now in leadership positions for local and national newsrooms. Today, the program aims to offer support to early-career journalists already in their respective newsrooms through a 1:1 mentorship by leading members in the journalism field as well as alumni from the program. Thanks to continued support for the program from Freedom Forum, each Chips Quinn Reporter receives a $10,000 stipend..
About Freedom Forum: Established on July 4, 1991, by USA TODAY founder Al Neuharth, the Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all. As the nation’s foremost advocate for First Amendment freedoms, the Freedom Forum engages thousands of Americans each year in classes, conversations and celebrations of these essential rights, including through the Power Shift Project, the annual Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, the Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism, the Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media, the Free Expression Awards, the annual “Where America Stands” survey, the Journalists Memorial and Today’s Front Pages.
About JFP: The mission of Journalism Funding Partners is to strengthen the depth, diversity and sustainability of local news by building and shepherding relationships between funders and local news organizations. JFP is a recognized nonprofit that acts as fiscal sponsor, allowing foundations and individual funders to contribute directly to local news, regardless of the news organization’s business model. JFP manages the funds feeding numerous news initiatives, including more than a dozen Climate reporters in the Southeast, an Equity Desk at The Sacramento Bee, an Education and Economic Mobility Desk in California’s Central Valley, the Investigative Fund of The Miami Herald and for Inclusivity and Investigative funds at the Associated Press.
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Media Contact: Rusty Coats, Executive Director | rusty@jfp-local.org | (813) 277-8959
