For many students from the University of New Mexico, the Daily Lobo is not only a student newspaper – this is the start of a life career. Two former journalists, Ryan Tomari and Isabel Gonzalez, have cut their own path in the Lobo editorial room in the world beyond.
Ryan Tomari
Tomari’s trip to journalism began before climbing the UNM campus. Natural Chortille and Sports Fan for Life, Tomari worked as a secondary school journalist, inspired by a teacher who had written once for stars and scratches. After decided to stay closer to his home, he found himself at UNM, where he found his place at the Daily Lobo in 2008.
Tomari’s introduction to Lobo came by a pick-up football match to Johnson Field, where he met the future colleagues who encouraged him to get involved. Soon he covered Lobo Athletics, building a foundation that would launch him into the professional world.
“I always liked to pick up a newspaper and read on sport,” said Tomari. “Being a match, seeing history in person – is the coolest thing.”
Tomari took advantage of his experience at the Daily Lobo for opportunities for Albuquerque Journal and later at CBS Sports in Manhattan, where he is independent as a researcher covering NFL and university athletics.
Today, Tomari continues his passion for sports journalism as a co-founder of The Pit Press, an independent media that covers UNM athletics all year round. The point of sale has gone from a podcast in a full -fledged media company, Tomari balancing this business alongside its sales career.
“Without the daily lobo, I would not have had the friendships, the skills or the desire to start my own media business,” said Tomari.
Isabel Gonzalez
For Isabel Gonzalez, journalism was not the original plan. Born in Mexico and grew up on football, Gonzalez initially continued advertising through the UNM interdisciplinary film and digital media program. A mixture during the first year which informed him in journalism lessons – and finally in a new passion.
Thanks to its early participation with Lobo TV and its transition to sports writing for the Daily Lobo in 2014, Gonzalez found its vocation. Covering male football and later male basketball, it discovered a love for the narration that linked it to the campus community.
“Coming from another country, sports have made me feel connected to people here,” said Gonzalez. “It has become a way to be part of culture.”
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After graduating from UNM, Gonzalez is independent for SB Nation, covering the male basketball of Gonzaga during a round of the Final Four. Later, she joined CBS Sports, where she is now the main writer for women’s university basketball, covering everything, from March Madness to WNBA.
Gonzalez is proud to raise women’s sports coverage, using his platform to tell impactful stories.
“At first, I had no training in women’s basketballs,” said Gonzalez. “But my publishers believed in my writing skills. To cover the sports of women is to treat them with the same level of respect and depth as any other beat. ”
For Tomari and Gonzalez, the Daily Lobo provided more than Bylines – it offered opportunities, relationships and foundations to build fulfilling careers.
“Stay with what you like,” said Tomari. “It can take you further than what you expected.”
Whether it is to build a media from zero or to direct a national basketball coverage, both credited their time to Lobo for helping them find their voice – and encouraged future journalists to follow theirs.
“Say yes to opportunities, even if you don’t know where they will go,” said Gonzalez.
Izabella Kubiak-Reseigh is an independent journalist for the daily Lobo. It can be attached to sports@dailylobo.com or on x @kubiakizabella