Tyler Bass of Newport News is a reporter, web designer, podcast host, and the social media coordinator at the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal, located at 6625 Main Street in Gloucester.

“Learning and improving daily is a challenge in itself,” said Bass. “I’m proud of where I am today and of what I’ve accomplished.”

Before coming to the Gazette-Journal in November 2019, Bass was very close to becoming a history teacher. Since then he has been busy writing, designing websites and managing the Gazette-Journal’s social media presence.

“I’m particularly proud of the podcast we started here,” said Bass.

Bass has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Biblical Studies.

He resides in Newport News with his wife Bre and his dog Maggie. He is the son of John and Valerie Bass and the grandson of Eugene Ripley.

Lauren Quezada of Mathews, is the new Graphic Technician at the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal, located at 6625 Main Street in Gloucester.

At the paper, Quezada deals with designing or printing deliverables like business cards, invitations, letterheads, menus, and more.

Quezada began her career at the Gazette-Journal in September after graduating from Longwood University earlier this year. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in brand, identity, and media design and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing.

“One of my proudest accomplishments would have to be completing college as a dual-degree graduate,” said Quezada. “The time spent pursuing graphic design and marketing provided the crucial stepping stones I needed to grow my experience as a graphic designer.”

For their love and support, Quezada would like to thank her mother and father, Amy and Ramon Quezada, her brother, Dominic Quezada, and her partner, Alexander Wade.

Melany Slaughter of Mathews, has spent the last two years as a full-time reporter at the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal, located at 6625 Main Street in Gloucester.

In addition to her reporting duties, Slaughter is a web designer, podcast host, and is also the special sections editor for the paper. Her greatest obstacles to date are juggling several responsibilities at once and managing stress.

In fifth grade, Slaughter was encouraged to become a writer by her Language Arts teacher, Marlene Moore.

Slaughter is a 2016 graduate of Mathews High School. She graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 2019 where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with minors in biology and writing.

Slaughter is the daughter of Tracy and Robbie Whitehurst and Vincent and Michelle Slaughter. She is the granddaughter of Janis Slaughter.