Hannah Davis is "different."

Hannah Davis was always underestimated because of her small size and soft spoken personality. But after working extremely hard throughout college and going after every opportunity placed in front of her, at the age of 23, Davis can surely say that she has already accomplished a lot in life. After graduating from Longwood University with a degree in Communication Studies: Mass Media, she became the first female sports editor at two local newspapers at Farmville NewsMedia, including The Farmville Herald and The Charlotte Gazette. 

Here is the story of how she got that fun, fearless life, in Farmville, Va. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Being independent is a big thing for me. I think being able to be successfully independent and actually have some sort of status in our community is pretty good. I am all about our community.”

 

Hannah Davis was always stick in the middle. Whether it was being the middle child in her family, or being involved in activities such as Beta Club, Spanish Club, cheerleading, beauty pageants and yearbook staff, because of her small size, she was always underestimated. 

 

"I was always that kid that everyone always underestimated. It was always them thinking I was just little Hannah. But I think growing up, that is what made me want to do better."

 

Sports were always her thing. She played basketball, soccer, and was a cheerleader all throughout her life and through high school. Her passion for journalism started way back in high school when she was an active member of the yearbook staff which allowed her to write and take pictures. She then carried that passion into college, where she attended Longwood University and became a cheerleader for the school. In college, she did not write for the student newspaper The Rotunda, but instead she was an intern in the marketing department and dabbed into different opportunities outside of journalism while she was there. 

 

All the while when she was getting into the middle of things again, Davis always still knew that journalism was her true passion, and when she grabbed her degree in communication studies: mass media,  she graduated knowing she wanted to be a journalist, but was not sure what kind.

 

"I wanted to be a journalist from the very start. But I didn’t think I was going to be a sports journalist … ever."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After graduating she applied for a job at The Farmville Herald in Farmville, Va. when she found out that the sports editor position was open. She found that one of the things that nailed her the job, was that she grew up around the town played local sports in the area throughout her life. Since joining The Farmville Herald, she has won many awards professionally such as first place in the state for the Virginia Press Association (VPA) for sports column writing and first place in the state for the Virginia Press Women in sports photography.

 

But her biggest accomplishment came when the The Farmville Herald was bought out by a new company called Farmville NewsMedia and when she realized at that turning point, that she was at a standstill in her career. So after taking every opportunity she could, such as delivery papers on a paper route and representing the paper at business meetings, she began to see herself move up beyond what she ever thought. 

 

“If you would have told me that I would have been a sports editor and would have won awards in sports, I would have never thought that. I think my biggest accomplishment is becoming an editor of two newspapers at the age of 23.”

 

But still, since she is so young, Davis is always looking for the next step to further herself in her career. She is working towards one day becoming a publisher of a newspaper or magazine.

 

 

N: What are some things that people don’t know about you?

I am obsessed with Netflix. I sing. I used to live on an Indian reservation in North Dakota.

 

N: What do you think about sports being called “a man’s world?

I think it is completely ridiculous, but I think it is true. I was the first female sports editor here and it was weird at first because going to games and interviewing coaches and fans, people were like OH! Kind of like oh wait a second, you can’t do that or oh! They hired a woman. I think it was a big break through moment for The Farmville Herald because of the diversity, it shocked the community. People can be qualified no matter what.

 

N: Do you think it is harder for woman in sports or because they are woman they can stand out it is easier, or both?

Both. At first it is hard to establish credibly. At first you have to work harder to prove to everyone you know what you are talking about and they you are not just a pretty face.

 

N: What advice would you give to little girls or women who want to establish credibility and find success in your field?

I would say the best thing is just learning how to get your name out there and actually try to get internships through places. Try and just get familiar with the field that you want to do, because you are really not going to know if you love it until you do it. So internships like crazy. You should do as many as you can.

 

"I am not afraid to stay after work and work later. If I want to get something done, it is going to get done. I try to take every opportunity I can and try to do it as soon as I can do it."