Lifer Spotlight: Jessica Bergfors

GreatNews.Life Contributing Editor Jessica Bergfors has long held an affinity for writing and the way it has allowed her to both connect with and make sense of the world around her. As a journalist, she has consistently drawn from this passion, allowing her work to truly come alive, be it through written or visual mediums.

Growing up, Bergfors recognized that she was not a math and science kid. Instead, she felt strongest when working with words. In English and writing coursework, she excelled. Free time saw her visiting the library with her mother, where Bergfors surrounded herself with books and magazines.

While her interests in literary material always stood out, she found it hard to place herself in a specific future with the subject.

“I liked creative writing in high school, but I didn’t want to be an author. I didn’t want to be an English teacher or anything either,” Bergfors said. “I ended up trying journalism.”

As a sophomore at Illiana Christian High School in Dyer, Indiana, Bergfors took up a role with her school newspaper. She took a break from the paper as a junior due to the pandemic. The following year, however, Bergfors returned as a sports editor, strengthening her experience with and understanding of journalism. Throughout the year, her work illuminated a new path forward for her interest in writing.

Bergfors decided to attend college for journalism, settling on Ball State University for its Unified Media Lab (UML), a mainstay of the university’s media department. Through a combination of shared space and accessible technology, the UML provides a workspace that encourages hands-on and collaborative work among students.

Her first week at Ball State, Bergfors immediately sought out how to get further involved with the media program beyond her classes. She was referred to Ball Bearings Magazine, a student-run publication. Bergfors began writing articles and designing various aspects of the magazine.

Towards the end of the year, another opportunity arose.

“The visual editor at the time was graduating, and he messaged me, and said, ‘Hey, the newspaper is looking to fill this position, and I think you’d be a great fit,’” Bergfors said.

The position turned out to be a visual editor for the Ball State Daily News, the university’s student newspaper. Her sophomore year, Bergfors picked up the mantle and began balancing time between this new role and her obligations as a Ball Bearings designer.

“Junior year, I was like, ‘I’m never gonna do exec, in that capacity. I don’t want to be editor-in-chief. I’m content being the visual editor, and I love doing this,’” Bergfors said. “Then things started changing, and I started thinking about it a little bit more, and I said ‘Maybe I will do this.’”

With encouragement from various friends, Bergfors applied for the editor-in-chief position for both Ball Bearings and the Ball State Daily News, willing to wait and see where her applications went. Before her senior year, she received the notification that she had been selected as the editor-in-chief for Ball Bearings. When she returned for her final fall semester, the UML became a second home of sorts as she worked on leading the charge for Ball Bearings and continued to contribute work to the Ball State Daily News.

Much of Bergfors’ role as editor-in-chief centered around her passion for the craft. She knew how much of a difference her time as a journalist had made in her life, and she wanted to make sure that came through to fellow students.

“I wanted other people and other students, and especially freshman incoming students to share the same passion and love that I have for these publications and journalism in general,” Bergfors said. “That was really one of my biggest driving points. I knew how much it meant to me and how much I loved doing it, and I wanted to help other people feel that.”

As editor-in-chief, Bergfors had the privilege to oversee the publication and distribution of two issues of Ball Bearings. One of the biggest inspirations for Bergfors at this time came in the form of a quote.

“There’s a photojournalist, David Labelle. He wrote, ‘Photography gives me a way to write love letters to humanity and to my God; a voice to say things I’m unable to say with words,’” Bergfors said. “I remember hearing that my senior year, and I thought ‘That’s exactly how I feel about journalism, writing, and design.’”

In spring 2026, Bergfors graduated with a bachelor of applied sciences in magazine media journalism, with a minor in digital media. For Bergfors, the degree represents the culmination of each of her interests as a journalist, allowing her to be more of a generalist in a professional capacity.

“I didn’t want a job where I was just writing. I didn’t want a job where I was just designing,” Bergfors said. “I wanted to be able to write, to design, to do photography, to do it all. That guided me into GreatNews.Life.”

Bergfors began her time with the publication in July 2026, fulfilling her desire of offering multiple skillsets. Currently, she serves not just as an editor, but as a writer, a photographer, and a manager of some of GreatNews.Life’s Life in the Spotlight series and Student Voices interns. Her dedication to each role as well as her willingness to step into various roles as needed marks her as a strong example of a Lifer.

Since her start, Bergfors appreciates how the job has allowed her to grow, citing a strengthening familiarity with Northwest Indiana and its citizens as a strong benefit to her role. Assignments across the area allow her to feel more connected and engaged with the community around her after time away in Muncie.

In her free time, Bergfors enjoys traveling to Chicago, be it for a day trip or for a multiple day music festival. In 2025, she attended Lollapalooza for four days.

“It was amazing,” Bergfors said. “I loved it—I could have done seven days of it. It was so much fun.”

Music and concerts serve as a comfort to Bergfors, stemming from her youth when her mother would take her to concerts. She finds a lot of joy in many artists, including Sabrina Carpenter, Harry Styles, Clairo, Megan Moroney, and Taylor Swift. She has seen or is planning to see many of these artists in concert. Her most recent concert was for Role Model at Chicago’s Salt Shed.

Bergfors also enjoys any time she can get with her friends, especially post graduation.

Through all of her work, Bergfors has exemplified a young professional dedicated to what awakens her passions and brings her joy. Each of her contributions as a journalist signal her desire to connect beyond the page, making her an authentic and captivating storyteller.