Meet our team: Maddie Poore
It takes a village to make The 51st. We’ll occasionally dedicate some space to introducing a member of the team.
What’s your relationship to D.C.? Are you from the area and, if not, why did you move here?
I love D.C., it’s the place I’ve lived the longest. I was born and raised in Fremantle, Western Australia, but moved to the states for highschool and college in Reno, Nevada. Right after graduating in 2015, I moved to D.C. with my then-partner; they had gotten a job coaching at the East Potomac Tennis Center. I was excited for the opportunity to live somewhere new. Since then, I’ve called Park View and Petworth home. I love having so many friends within walking distance to me — it’s the most rooted I've ever felt.
What do you love about local news?
Working at WAMU and DCist showed me how local news can directly make people’s lives better. I’ve seen investigative reporting published by DCist result in emergency legislation being passed by the D.C. Council the very next day. There’s a lot of power that can be built from getting accurate and actionable information to people in the community, and elevating issues and highlighting solutions. Plus, at a time when there’s more and more misinformation and distrust in news, studies show people are far more likely to see local sources in their cities as trustworthy and less polarizing. Local journalism is a public service, and I want to see it fully funded and thriving.
Why did you decide to become a co-founder of The 51st?
When DCist was abruptly shut down I was devastated. The way it happened was cruel; gutting one of the last remaining local newsrooms felt so deeply unfair to the city. After leaving DCist in 2021, I started freelancing, but I’ve been drawn to cooperatives and worker-led structures for a long time. Knowing how big of a gap there now was in our city's news landscape, and how worse we were for it, I couldn’t stop thinking about the success stories of newsrooms like Defector and 404 Media, who also spun up as worker-owned outlets out of closures. At a gathering held to mourn the loss of DCist with past and present staff, I couldn’t help but propose the question to colleagues…” worker-run newsroom, when??” I was only half-kidding. Those questions resulted in an initial Zoom meeting, and eventually, a core team started meeting multiple times a week. Now here we are 10 months later, and I couldn’t be more thankful to be building The 51st with this team and our D.C. community.
What’s your perfect D.C. day?
It’s summertime, let's say mid-June. I’d wake up and grab a scone and iced coffee from Little Food Studio on Upshur. Then I’d head to Rock Creek Park before it gets too hot out, and forage a snack of wineberries. (They look like little jewels and taste so sweet. Plus they are invasive, so the more berries you eat, the less birds and critters eat and spread the seeds.) I’d then swing by Hana Market for a few onigiri (ideal lunch on the go), before meeting up with friends at Banneker Pool, where I’d spend the afternoon cooling off while soaking up the incredible vibes and music from the resident DJ-lifeguards. Let’s say it also happens to be the same day as the Girls Rock DC showcase. I am moved to tears in the audience listening to an original song written by middle schoolers about friendship. I’d end the night on the Suns Cinema patio with takeout pupusas and plantains from Ercilia’s across the street, and maybe (because it is my perfect day, after all!) taking a walk to Joia Burger for a nightcap of ube soft serve.
Where would you eat your last D.C. meal?
This is so hard for me to answer because eating in the city is one of my favorite things to do. (See above.) I think it would be take-out sushi from Mita Cafe, eaten in Grant Circle. Not only is the sushi delicious, but the couple who run it have a very sweet love story. I always feel so genuinely cared for when I go there (which is often).
