Alaena Hunt is a journalist from Vermont. She just graduated from Georgetown University, where she studied Journalism and Justice and Peace Studies. While in DC, she worked for Street Sense Media, writing human-centered stories on deadline and winning a Dateline Award for her reporting. After gaining near exclusive access to Dr. Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown academic detained by ICE in March 2025, she is currently pitching a feature on his case to national outlets. She is looking for work in Vermont, Boston, New York, and Washington D.C.

About

From a young age, Alaena has loved to tell stories. At Georgetown, this led her to explore a career in journalism. She fell in love with the field because it allows her to be constantly exploring, connecting with people, and learning about the world around her. 

Her journalism examines the world critically and curiously, constantly drawing on lessons she has learned while completing her major in justice and peace studies. As an editorial intern for Street Sense Media, a paper that reports on homelessness in Washington, D.C., she is trained in reporting on vulnerable sources. 

Her out-of-the-box thinking often allows her to find interesting angles and stories, and is why is has a deep passion for multimedia journalism. As an assistant podcast editor at The Georgetown Voice, she is producing her own podcast on Italian culture. She also writes stories for the news and features sections.

Through road-trips across the U.S, study abroad experiences in France and Italy, and just walking around Georgetown’s campus, she is constantly collecting stories. Alaena has spent a lot of time traveling, and speaks Italian and French. She believes that in order to write about the world, you have to explore the world. She also believes that journalism is an act of public service, and what powers humanity forward is connection.

Work

For 1,250 days, Alan has given out free water at a busy Brightwood intersection

October 2025 - The 51st

D.C. auditor report validates long-standing concerns about Rapid Rehousing, finding 79% of families exit without increasing income

August 2025 - Street Sense Media

“Super” kitchen: How a chef in D.C. is combating homelessness, one meal at a time

November 2026 - Street Sense Media