Meet Danielle Olavario
Hello, everyone!
I'm Danielle Olavario, and I'm the social media lead at Context Newsroom, powered by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. I like to think of my role as akin to setting up a shop window. When our audience looks at our Instagram or LinkedIn, they're essentially window-shopping to see what we've got to offer. My job is to ensure that our products – our stories – are presented in a way that's enticing to our customers.
Despite the ever-changing landscape of social media over the years, the core for me has remained constant: it's all about connection.
As a bona fide digital native, my journey into the world of social media began quite some time ago. My first job was as a social media manager for Euronews’ English channels, where I gained invaluable insights into connecting with audiences, crafting digital narratives, and driving engagement. But my interest in social media started when I first joined Friendster at the tender age of 9.
Initially, it was a means to connect with my schoolmates, but it quickly transformed into a platform for interacting with people from all corners of the globe. It absolutely astonished me that the internet could offer a glimpse into the lives of kids my age, from the United States to Japan. By the time I was on Tumblr during my teenage years, I had forged a close-knit community of online friends whom I chatted with daily – some of whom I'm still in touch with today.
Beyond social media, I'm a writer, reader, and photographer. I have a deep love for art, culture, and fashion – in fact, I’m launching a podcast this month called “A Love Letter To” where I talk about clothes in film, TV and pop culture that I can’t stop obsessing over (you can listen to it from October 23 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you get podcasts). Aside from that, lifelong learning is a personal passion, and I'm thrilled to be taking a module in English Literature this fall – not for career advancement or upskilling, but purely for the joy of it!
About Context/Thomson Reuters Foundation
Context is a media platform launched in September 2022 by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. We aim to provide context to critical issues and events that affect ordinary people, society and the environment.
Our global newsroom is powered by an award-winning team of journalists with decades of experience reporting from the ground in more than 70 countries. We publish stories around three of the most significant issues of our time: climate change, the impact of technology on society and inclusive economies.
My #Experts Focus
Has there been a more challenging time to be a social media manager? With the rapid evolution of digital platforms, the constant influx of new algorithms and features, and the ever-increasing demand for authentic and engaging content, we’re facing a complex and dynamic landscape. Just keeping up with all of these changes is a full-time job in itself. More than ever, social media managers have to be adaptable and creative, and they need a deep understanding of their online community.
So how can newsrooms create a social media strategy when the playing field changes day by day? That’s what I’ll attempt to answer in my #Experts series, where I’ll take you through the steps of creating a strategy, adapting your strategy in a changing landscape, and creating content with inclusivity and accessibility in mind.
Here’s what you can expect each Monday in October:
- Monday, October 9th: Developing a Social Media Strategy for a Newsroom
- Monday, October 16th: Adapting Your Strategy in a Rapidly Changing Landscape
- Monday, October 23rd: 3 Lenses for Social Media Content Creation: Accessibility, Inclusivity, and Dealing with Backlash
More About Me
My journey into the world of journalism started in university. While I was pursuing a microbiology course, I stumbled upon my passion for stories when I started writing for college publications. I got a thrill from talking to a wide array of people, from fashion designers to scientists and even professional clowns. I loved looking at how they lived their lives and learning about what mattered to them. It was like the good vibes I got from those early Friendster days translated into real-life, and you know what? It all came down to the same simple thing: connection.
Journalism provided me with a unique window into the diverse lives of others. I’m so proud of the coverage we have at Context, where we cover stories like migrants crossing the perilous Darien Gap in the name of the American dream, or how women working in India's film industry are teaming up to bypass 'boys' club' unions. The drive to bring stories like these to audiences that may not have heard about them otherwise is what fuels and inspires me.
Over my career, I have juggled social media management and writing. Some of my proudest writing moments emerged during the initial wave of lockdowns in 2020 when a friend and I embarked on a journey to interview people from around the globe, examining how Covid had reshaped their lives, both positively and negatively.
Ultimately, it all reinforces my strong belief that journalism can shed light on the rich diversity of human experiences, highlighting the common threads woven throughout our collective stories.
