Ria Lowenschuss
Writer, Reporter, Editor-in-Chief
My Story
My name is Ria Lowenschuss and I am a writer. I am a writer among other things — a reader, a feminist, a scientist, an activist, a theater techie — but writing always seems to come first and foremost. In preschool, I would dictate stories to my teachers for them to write down and show to my mother, so proud of what I had created. As I grew older, I wrote short stories whenever I could. When I reached eighth grade, I discovered the magical craft of journalism and I have never looked back.
I joined "The Communicator" in my sophomore year of high school, but I had spent freshman year writing articles for other publications, such as The Detroit Writing Room. I found a home in Room 300, where Tracy Anderson served us chocolate chip cookies while we wrote stories and designed pages for our magazine. I love journalistic writing. I love interviewing people; talking to them
about anything and everything, listening to them and hearing their stories, letting their voice do the talking in my articles. I believe that words can change the world and that journalism allows them to do so.
My journalistic work is informed by my interests outside of journalism. I focus on feminism and queer issues within my articles, which can be seen in stories like “Reproductive Justice from a Queer Woman’s Perspective,” an opinion piece on what the overturning of Roe v. Wade means for all people with uteri, and “Don’t Call Me Baby,” a narrative about sexual harassment in the work place. I have the privilege of a platform and people listening to what I say and I want to use it to better the world around me, even in small ways.
Outside of journalism, I am an avid reader. I devour novels, tear through feminist literature and constantly keep a book in my bag. My favorite book changes constantly, but right now it is “I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself” by Marisa Crane, a gorgeous reflection on grief, motherhood, and queerness in an America where those who have done wrong are marked forever. Currently, I am reading "The Dawnhounds" by Sascha Stronach. I work at Schuler Books, an independent bookstore on the west side of Ann Arbor, which is the perfect workplace for me. I am constantly surrounded by books!
I am an active member of Community Ensemble Theatre, Community High School’s theater program. I have done backstage crew since sixth grade, when I painted sets in my middle school auditorium for their production of "Hello Dolly!” I love being in the theater, surrounded by saws and lumber and paint cans. This year, I am the co-president of CET and after a successful fall production, we are hard at work on "Cabaret." I am so excited to create hands-on theater again!
For me, journalism is a way to help the world with words and stories. I utilize my privilege and platform as a place to lift up other voices. Above all, I want to help the people around and the planet I have grown up on. Journalism allows voices to be heard and change to be made.