Julia Williams — a Kansas City native — is a reporter and digital producer for The Labor Beacon. A University of Missouri School of Journalism alumna, she previously served as the editor-in-chief of The Northeast News before joining The Labor Beacon staff.
Williams’s grandfather was a Claycomo Ford Motor Company retiree and avid UAW Local 249 supporter, allowing her to understand the union difference from a young age.
She became involved in the journalism industry at 14 years old, working for her high school broadcasting television station, where she went on to serve as a producer, show anchor and social media manager while traveling to compete in state and nationwide competitions, including Student Television Network (STN).
In May 2024, she obtained a bachelor of journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Mo., with a minor in fine arts and a multicultural certificate.
With an emphasis in reporting and writing, Williams worked at various news publications in Columbia, Mo., including — but not limited to — The Maneater, Columbia Missourian, Vox Magazine and KBIA.
Her inspirations in the industry include Nora Ephron, Christiane Amanpour and Steve Hartman for their unique storytelling and continual ability to uphold the Society of Professional Journalist’s Code of Ethics.
In her free time, Williams enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to see her friends and hanging out at home with her cat, Greta. She loves a good cup of coffee, seeing local, live music and shopping secondhand.
With a passion for storytelling, she hopes to bring her knowledge of journalistic integrity to the Kansas City union community — giving union and labor workers a voice, while holding people in powerful positions accountable.
“We are beyond excited to bring Julia Williams on to our team. She is a deeply talented writer with serious experience in areas that will allow our beloved publication to grow into the modern era,” said Tristin Amezcua- Hogan, editor-in-chief of The Labor Beacon. “Williams understands the grind of a small print publication and has a mind for storytelling that you just can’t teach.”
You can contact Julia Williams via email at:
Julia@LaborBeacon.com
