Meet Baala Shakya
Baala Shakya
Hello! My name is Baala Shakya, and I’m thrilled to be joining the Blade as a 2025 summer intern.
I’m originally from San Antonio, Texas, and a rising sophomore at Yale, where I’m majoring in history with a concentration in politics, law, and government. On campus, I report and photograph for the Yale Daily News, edit for the Yale Historical Review and The Yale Globalist, and serve as Editor-in-Chief of Vexillum, Yale’s undergraduate Medieval Studies journal.
Outside the newsroom, I enjoy hiking, reading, and photography. This summer, I look forward to exploring the Toledo community.
Meet Jonas Loesel
Jonas Loesel
Hello! My name is Jonas Loesel (pronounced like Yonas!), and I’ll be joining the Blade this summer as a newsroom intern! Originally from Atlanta, GA, I’m excited to be making my first foray into the Midwest with this paper. I am a rising junior at Yale University, where I am majoring in Humanities. At Yale, I also write for the Yale Daily News.
Outside of work, I enjoy riding my bike (excited to explore the trails here!), baking banana bread, or playing in my college’s marimba band. I’m excited to immerse myself in all that Toledo has to offer. Please send all of your favorite recommendations my way!
Meet Isobel McClure
Isobel McClure
My name is Isobel McClure, and I am joining The Blade as a general assignment intern. Originally from New York City, I am a sophomore at Yale, studying English literature and French. Alongside my studies, I am a staff reporter and head copy editor for the Yale Daily News, as well as an undergraduate reader for the Yale Review.
During my free time, I enjoy running, biking, reading and hiking. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to join The Blade’s team this summer and learn more about journalistic practices and coverage!
Meet Sophie Molden
Sophie Molden
My name is Sophie Molden, and I’m coming to the Blade as a summer intern. Born and raised in Jackson, Mich., Toledo is close to home. I am a senior in the English program at Yale with a nonfiction creative writing concentration. At Yale, I work with The New Journal and the Yale Daily News as a copy editor and contributing reporter.
When I’m not working as a student librarian, I enjoy reading, writing poetry, playing my guitar, and taking long nature walks. I’m excited to join the team and engage in local journalism!
Meet Gina Napoli
Gina Napoli
Hello everyone!
My name is Gina Napoli and I am from Toledo. I joined The Blade staff as a general assignment intern and am happy to be here! I have four siblings, two wonderful parents, and a black lab named Max. I am a junior at Ohio University and study journalism news and information. I also work for The Post, the independent student-run newspaper on campus, as the human-interest section editor.
I enjoy trying new foods, working out, spending time with friends, and watching the Toledo Walleye and Mud Hens. I am excited to work with The Blade staff and learn more about reporting and writing!
Meet Samantha Comperchio
Samantha Comperchio is a new Media Campaign Strategist and will spend time as a Sales Representative for our Advertising team.
Samantha was born in Florida but has grown up in the Toledo area (go Northview Wildcats!). She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from The University of Toledo, with a focus in Creative Writing.
Before joining The Blade, Samantha worked as an Inside Sales Specialist at Double A Solutions.
Samantha enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Logan, and dog, Gracie, in her free time. She also likes exploring new restaurants in the area, reading, yoga, and baking.
Meet Malik Drakes
Hello everyone, my name is Malik Drakes. I was born on the beautiful island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean and moved to Toledo when I was 13 years old. I’ve lived here ever since.
Over the years, I’ve gained valuable experience in both customer service and the automotive manufacturing industry. For the past several years, I’ve worked in customer service, building strong communication and problem-solving skills. In addition, I have nearly eight years of experience in the automotive manufacturing sector, where I’ve worked with CAD and CNC technologies.
I’m a bit of a workaholic during the week—I enjoy staying busy and productive—but when the weekend hits, I love to relax and have fun. My ultimate goal is to earn my degree in Mechanical Engineering and continue growing in a field that challenges and inspires me.
Meet Jay Davis
Jay Davis is a new Media Campaign Strategist and will spend time as a Sales Representative for our Advertising team.
Jay Davis
Jay was born and raised in the Toledo area (a former Bowsher Rebel, Byrnedale Bulldog, and Glendale Gator). She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications from The University of Akron, with a focus in Radio and TV Broadcasting, and a minor in Sports Marketing.
Before joining the Blade, Jay worked as a Multimedia Journalist at Channel 13ABC Action News, a Marketing Coordinator at Midwest Tape, as well as a Project & Social Media Manager at ESPN.
Jay is a huge sports fan and also a former 4-sport + D1 Collegiate athlete. In her free time, she is usually focusing on her small business as a Sports Videographer/Photographer or yelling at her sports teams.
Top 10 biggest style mistakes
News Editor Alicia Gruver will be providing regular Style Snapshots for us so we can better adhere to our style. To get things started, we are pointing out what we’re calling the Top 10 biggest style mistakes.
1) We use the Oxford comma. (Ex. red, white, and blue.)
2) We say news conference, not press conference.
3) When we refer to days within the week, we use the day, not the date.
4) Protesters and advisers are spelled with an “e” and not an “o” at the end.
5) There is a comma between months and years (Ex. January, 2022).
6) Use periods when abbreviating legislative bills. (Ex. H.B. 51.)
7) Jr. and Sr. get commas around them. (Ex. Martin Luther King, Jr.,…)
8) We use single quotes in cutlines.
9) Numbers are used with percentages, and we spell out the word “percent.” (Ex. 1 percent.)
10) Health care is two words and is hyphenated if used as a modifier to another word (Ex. health-care workers.)
