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Meet the Media: Emma Lutjen, Associate Editor at EE World Online

Since I graduated in December 2021, I’ve been an associate editor within the engineering field, first for Microwave Journal and since January at EE World Online and all the sites it handles. In both cases, I’ve been able to pursue stories while simultaneously editing and publishing content from outside authors or colleagues. 

Can you tell us what types of stories, trends, or issues are on your radar now?

Since I handle our Battery Power Tips site’s newsletter and a majority of its content, I’ve been keeping an eye on the press about batteries/battery applications, especially with the rise of electric vehicles. It’s hard to talk to engineers about electric vehicles without talking about batteries, or at least mentioning them, but, that works out in my favor since there’s a high chance I’ll handle the newsletter for our recently launched electric vehicle site as well — EV Engineering Online. 

Describe the craziest or most fun story you have written. / What story or stories are you most proud of?

Being that I’m fresh in the industry I haven’t gotten the chance to write many stories, so for now my most fun story is also the one I’m most proud of. Over the summer I had the opportunity to interview Eugina Jordan, currently the CMO of Telecom Infra Project, for our sister brand Design World’s diversity profiles — a collection of profiles highlighting the stories of women and minorities in engineering. She had an incredibly inspiring story that reminded me how much I love writing profiles on individuals. She also very sweetly sent me a signed copy of her book on how to be empowered in the workplace as the underrepresented. 

What elements or characteristics do you look for in a story?

I’m lucky enough that pretty much all the stories I’ve written thus far have fallen into my lap, but what gets me excited about a story is carving out the narrative. How do I make people see what I see as important here? How do I write it so they follow along without getting bored? There’s a way to write every story so it accomplishes both. 

How long have you been in journalism and how did you get started?

I come from a creative writing background; I’m great at writing and editing, but before I took my job at Microwave Journal journalism hadn’t crossed my mind since working with my high school newspaper. I sort of stumbled upon using my editorial skills within the engineering industry with that job, and from there realized my position and skills enabled me to be a journalist and tell real stories. 

Finish this sentence: If I am not reporting, I am …

Editing. If I’m not editing, I’m either working on my own writing, painting, hitting up an antique store or museum, and/or generally spending time with people I love. 

What advice do you have for PR people who want to pitch you?

Use people. I might be in engineering, but that’s not my background; how a product or achievement relates to people is much more interesting to me than the product or achievement itself. 

Any pet peeves with PR people?

Nothing egregious comes to mind. 

Tell us a little about yourself (family, interests, hobbies, background, some facts about you that few people know, etc.)

Some fun facts about me are that I come from a family of 90% women, I love to make art in many mediums, but I usually paint, I’m located in the greater Boston area, and this past year I’ve been teaching myself to garden so my indoor plants thrive instead of simply not dying. 

You can connect with Emma on LinkedIn here.

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