by Lina Bryce
Hilde Kate Lysiak is not your average 9-year-old — she’s also the reporter, editor, and publisher of Orange Street News who ruffled some feathers by breaking a story about a murder that occurred in her hometown of Selinsgrove, PA.
Apparently following in the footsteps of her father Matthew Lysiak, an author and former New York Daily News reporter, the third-grader broke the story after she said she received a “good tip from a source.” Immediately heading over to the location with camera and notepad in hand, she spoke with local residents and police, then uploaded the news on her YouTube Channel – Orange Street News.
The Washington Post spoke with Hilde and asked why she spends her free time reporting the news.
“I just like letting people know all the information,”she said.
Hilde is just doing what she loves.
“It’s just what I really want to do. And crime is definitely my favorite.”
Her breaking news report about the murder not only beat the presses of her local newspaper, The Daily Item, a report she claims wasn’t covered as in-depth as hers.
However, her fast reporting brought on a big surprise when she became the target of many harsh and negative criticisms from adults viewing her broadcast.
Questioning whether or not a child should report on such issues, many adults took to Facebook later that evening to voice their concerns. Here are some of the less vulgar comments as they were written:
“I think this is appalling that u [sic] would do a story like this when all the facts are not in yet.”
“Does no one realize that this is a 9-year-old reporting this type of graphic information!”
“I mean, what parents are encouraging this type of behavior!”
“I think this is appalling that u would do a story liek [sic] this when all the facts are not in yet. Have some respect for all parties involved please.”
Without hesitation, Hilde took on her critics by posting a video response a few days later, offering a lesson on freedom of speech.
“If you want me to stop covering news, then you get off your computer, do something about the news.”
While continuing to address her critics into the camera, she exclaims, “There! Is that cute enough for you?”
Watch her report from the scene and her feisty response to critics below.
Report-
Response to critics-
