It takes a lot to make sure we cover all the news happening in Santa Barbara, and one of the ways we’re able to do that is with the help of people like Cebelli Pfeifer, one of our news interns. This week, meet the dedicated up and coming journalist who has been running around Santa Barbara for us.
How long have you been interning at the Independent and what made you want to come here? What do you do outside of your internship? I have been interning at the Independent since the end of January. I wanted to come here because I saw a great opportunity to grow as a journalist and gain real-world experience in a professional newsroom. Beyond the internship, I am a second-year student at SBCC double majoring in political science and communications.
What’s been your favorite story you’ve done so far? Anything you’d like to cover in the near future? My favorite story I’ve covered so far was on the threats being made to SBCC’s federal funding. It addressed the critical dilemma many colleges and universities are facing regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs being at risk and federal funding threats from the Trump Administration. Covering a story like this was both challenging and rewarding as it required distilling complex federal policies and analyzing their impact on Santa Barbara’s local community.
What got you started/interested in journalism? Is this where you see your career heading? I started studying journalism as a fluke when I accidentally enrolled in a class for my middle school’s newspaper. I found that journalism offered a career where I could socialize with people I wouldn’t have otherwise met, delve into topics I know nothing about, and, at the end of the day, compile it all into a feasible piece of written work for others to learn from. There’s nothing I don’t love about journalism. It fostered my biggest passion, and ever since my occupational ambition has always been to become a professional journalist, specifically for National Geographic someday.
Where are you from and what brought you to Santa Barbara? I am originally from Northern California, specifically a town called Redwood City. After dwindling down my options for where to attend college, I was unable to afford to attend a four-year university out of high school, and from there I discovered SBCC. I enrolled and moved here in 2023, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The small-town charm of Santa Barbara is something I will always appreciate and indulge in, and I knew after my first week living here that it would be hard to ever move away.
What are some of your favorite things to do here in Santa Barbara when you’re not working? Any favorite spots to hit up? My favorite thing to do in Santa Barbara is run! I’ve always been a big runner, but prior to moving here, I never knew that Santa Barbara had such a big running community. One of my favorite memories is running up and down Cabrillo Boulevard during sunset every night during my first year living here, in addition to participating in the half marathon in 2023. Aside from that, I have to say my favorite spot to hit is the Tuesday and Saturday farmers’ market on State Street. Good people, good music, good food; what’s not to love?
What do you get up to for fun? Any good content you’ve had your eye on? Although running is one of my favorite and most consistent hobbies, I also love to spend my time exploring Santa Barbara and trying new things here! Whether it be new food places, going for sunset dips at new beaches, or exploring new off-roads in the mountains, I love it all. At the end of a long day of exploring, I enjoy watching White Lotus and Severance with my roommates — two shows that are definitely must-watches.
