Phil Strum, 33, has been writing full-time at the Poughkeepsie Journal since 2006. He has also written about professional wrestling for a blog, Under the Ring, for 6 years. Strum, who grew up in Medford, N.Y., started his career in high school when he took a journalism class his senior year and won a scholarship to Suffolk Community College where he worked at the college’s newspaper. Working as sports editor and later editor-in-chief, he climbed the ranks before attending SUNY New Paltz, where he worked as managing editor of the New Paltz Oracle. He interned part-time at the Poughkeepsie Journal in 2005 and was hired full-time by the Journal a year later when he graduated. He has interviewed famous wrestlers Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, and is an avid fan of hockey and baseball, as well as wrestling.
Find out how Roberto Cruz ended up at the Poughkeepsie Journal.
Find out what court cases Robert Gavin has covered at the Albany Times Union.
Read about why Sarah Bradshaw loves investigative reporting.