New reporter joins paper

TIFFIN — Elijah Staub has spent the past month reporting for The Advertiser-Tribune and Review Times, and we want readers to get to know the person behind the byline. Staub grew up in Hanover, Pennsylvania, near Gettysburg, before moving to Tiffin this year. He and his partner visited the area in March while she was considering graduate programs, and the couple fell for the town almost immediately. She is now pursuing a master's degree in counseling at Heidelberg University. "Tiffin reminds me of Gettysburg a lot, with its beautiful downtown and historic roots," Staub said. Staub graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, this year with a bachelor's degree in Communication Arts. He said the decision to study communications came down to two professors who shaped his path: Dr. Stevie Berberick, who taught his journalism course, and Dr. Nicholas Maradin, who oversees the college's radio station, 91.7FM WNJR. "I've always wanted to know the intricate details of things for as long as I can remember," Staub said. "My mom called me 'the walking question-mark' growing up because I would always ask for more information, even in my younger days." That curiosity led him to journalism and, eventually, to radio. Under Maradin's guidance, Staub hosted a weekly show for three semesters, writing scripts, producing promotional material and connecting music from past decades to current events. "I learned a lot about storytelling through this experience," Staub said. "I worked every week to tell the story of whatever was happening in the news while connecting music of the past to what is happening in today's political climate." Staub said he was drawn to local journalism in part because of the growing spread of misinformation tied to artificial intelligence. "I am a firm believer that local news is going to play a significant role in combating this, and I want to be a part of the fight for human intelligence and truth," he said. He said he is especially interested in covering local, state and federal politics, as well as feature stories that introduce him, and readers, to the people of Tiffin and Fostoria. "I want readers to know that my work is research-backed and that it aims to be as truthful, accurate, and fair as possible," Staub said. "I also want my work to feel human." Before switching his focus to journalism full-time, Staub spent four years as a starting left tackle on Washington and Jefferson's football team, earning two-time Second-Team All-Conference honors in the Presidents Athletic Conference. He said the discipline of balancing a demanding sport with schoolwork taught him lessons he now brings to the newsroom. "Being a student-athlete provided me with many skills that I aim to bring to my job," Staub said. "One is that I will never be too busy to get the job done, and done well." Outside of work, Staub is a self-described collector of physical media, including books, records and DVDs, and a regular at the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library. He has also worked as a documentary filmmaker, producing a short film about the economic decline of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and a two-part audio documentary on the financial struggles facing his generation. When he and his partner want a bite to eat, they head to MST in downtown Tiffin. "We both love the chicken chunks there and everyone working there is incredibly friendly and welcoming," Staub said. Staub said he welcomes feedback from readers as he settles into his new role. "I welcome all forms of criticism and praise," he said. "Any feedback will help me to be a better reporter."