A Summer of Discovery: Navigating Seattle’s Tech Scene as a GeekWire Intern
When London native Maddie Stoll arrived in Seattle for her summer internship at GeekWire, she expected to gain experience in journalism. What she couldn’t have anticipated was being thrust into the heart of a protest at Microsoft’s Redmond campus on just her second day. Armed with nothing more than her phone and a GeekWire lanyard, she found herself capturing footage of a protester being handcuffed, pepper-ball welts fresh on his back. This baptism by fire set the tone for an internship that would consistently push her beyond her comfort zone, immersing her in Seattle’s vibrant tech ecosystem and distinctive culture.
Coming from London and studying in Chicago, Maddie brought a unique perspective to Seattle. The city revealed itself to her as more introspective than either of her previous homes, yet equally ambitious in its own right. Seattle struck her as a place negotiating its identity between global tech prominence and intimate, outdoorsy character. Despite having heard about the infamous “Seattle Freeze,” Maddie instead encountered people who were surprisingly friendly—more open than Londoners, if not quite as immediately warm as Chicagoans. The city’s walkability and bike-friendly neighborhoods made exploration accessible, though she noted the stark contrasts that define modern Seattle: gleaming skyscrapers sharing blocks with homeless encampments, a visual reminder of the economic pressures accompanying the tech boom. These contradictions fascinated Maddie, painting Seattle as a city still in the process of defining itself, inviting both reflection and ambition from newcomers and locals alike.
GeekWire wasted no time immersing Maddie in Seattle’s tech landscape. Her reporting spanned an impressive range: artificial intelligence in education, startups making Madrona’s IA40 list, agricultural technology innovations, and even the Allen Institute’s project sending stem cells into space. Several stories particularly resonated with her, including an exploration of AI’s cautious adoption in schools and a profile of Seattle’s “traveling math magician” who aims to build a physical mathematics museum. Working alongside experienced reporter Lisa Stiffler on a piece about WSU’s strawberry-picking robot offered valuable insight into the editorial process. Perhaps most inspiring was Maddie’s interview with the founders of FoundHer House, two Seattle students who created an all-female AI hacker house in San Francisco, providing young women space to live, build startups, and support each other during the AI boom. The fact that these entrepreneurs were roughly her age yet already reshaping opportunities for women in tech left a profound impression. Maddie’s experience extended beyond writing articles; she attended significant industry conversations featuring Microsoft president Brad Smith, connected with entrepreneurs at networking events, and participated in women’s leadership discussions, gaining a comprehensive view of Seattle’s tech community.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Maddie embraced life in Seattle with enthusiasm. Staying in a Fremont hostel immersed her in the neighborhood’s vintage charm, with its abundance of Thai restaurants, bustling Sunday market, coffee culture, and the scenic Burke-Gilman Trail populated by Lime scooters. Dog-sitting in Queen Anne revealed a quieter, more residential side of Seattle, complete with spectacular skyline views from Kerry Park. Determined to experience as much of the Pacific Northwest as possible, Maddie’s adventures included watching sunsets at Golden Gardens, a weekend trip to the San Juan Islands, hiking at Mount Rainier, wandering through Washington Park Arboretum, admiring Dale Chihuly’s glass artistry, visiting Ocean Shores to see the Pacific, exploring the Seattle Art Museum’s Ai Weiwei exhibit, and enjoying the Bumbershoot music festival. These experiences complemented her professional growth, offering a fuller understanding of the region’s natural beauty and cultural offerings.
One of the most valuable aspects of Maddie’s internship was the opportunity to experiment with artificial intelligence in journalism. Tools like Otter.ai streamlined transcription work, while ChatGPT provided constructive feedback on her writing to supplement editor Taylor Soper’s careful edits. GeekWire’s “Hacks & Snacks” workshop demonstrated how AI could alleviate administrative burdens, creating more space for creative and investigative work. Beyond learning technical skills, Maddie appreciated GeekWire’s transparent approach to AI adoption, recognizing how the journalism industry is being transformed. Her internship illustrated that AI is not merely a topic to cover but a tool reshaping how journalists work—a frontier where media professionals must continuously redefine and defend their craft while embracing helpful innovations.
By summer’s end, Maddie’s experience resembled a vibrant collage: protests and panels, deadlines and dogs, ferries and festivals. Seattle revealed itself as a city with a different rhythm than London or Chicago—perhaps more measured, but equally driven in pursuing innovation and quality of life. The GeekWire internship provided far more than professional development; it offered cultural immersion, technological insight, and a deeper understanding of a city at the crossroads of natural beauty and technological revolution. Through breaking news coverage, startup profiles, community events, and outdoor adventures, Maddie gained a multifaceted perspective on Seattle’s tech ecosystem and distinctive character. What began with sirens and protests concluded with a rich appreciation for a city still writing its story—and the opportunity to have contributed, even briefly, to documenting that evolution through GeekWire’s unique lens.
