The Free Press

Cullen McIntyre

Editor in Chief

Cullen is a senior Media Studies major along with a Sports Media minor. He joined the Free Press his freshman year as a writer before becoming the Sports Editor for three semesters. In the summer of 2020 he became the Editor-in-Chief of the Free Press. He takes photos for the paper with a Nikon D6 & D7500 and works for the USM Athletic Department. You can find his work @cullenmcintyrephotography on Instagram. He also hosts a talkshow at WMPG titled “Sports Jam” every Tuesday from 8:30-9:30am.

Haley Hersey

News Editor

Haley is a second-year media studies major, but credit-wise is a senior and is graduating in the spring. She joined the Free Press her freshman year as a writer. In addition to writing for the student newspaper, Haley is a part-time reporter for the Morning Sentinel newspaper. Besides writing, Haley enjoys traveling, cooking, playing with her dogs, and spending time with friends and family.

Nora Devin

Director of Photography

Nora’s a senior this year and also the Director of Photography here at the Free Press. She’s a 22-year-old media studies major from Virginia and photography has always been a passion of hers. For her, photography is a way to feel the softness of the world. She feels that documenting your life is essential and that photography is a great way to do that. After she graduates she plans to take a year off to go on a road trip around the country with her camera and see where it takes her.

Zoe Bernardi

Community Editor

Zoe is entering her senior year here at USM, with a double major in Communication and Media Studies. She is the Community Editor for the newspaper, and has been writing since her freshman fall semester. Zoe is from upstate New York and wanted to move to Maine for school for a change in pace and to explore the lovely city of Portland. When she is not working on a new assignment, she enjoys joking around, going to the beach, eating gluten-free baked goods, and listening to good music.

Lydia Simmons

Arts & Culture Editor

Lydia is a junior this year at USM, double majoring in media studies and communication and minoring in public relations. She serves as the Arts and Culture Editor here at the Free Press and this is her second year with the paper. When she is not doing schoolwork Lydia enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family. Lydia hopes to one day be able to combine her passion for traveling and writing and turn it into a successful career.

Riley Mayes

Web Editor

Riley (she/her) is a junior at USM. She is majoring in English with the hope of entering the publishing industry one day.  When she is not working through the heaps of books on her bedside table, you’ll find her out in the woods or exploring tidepools. Her writing has been featured in several print and online publications, including BUST Magazine, Bryant Literary Review, and Beyond Words International Literary Magazine.

Brandon Kennedy

Staff Writer

Brandon is currently taking theatre classes at USM, but he thinks he might switch to media studies for video production. He is a staff writer and writes for the Movie Talk column as one of his passions is film. His hobbies are video games, and video production, as well as writing. Brandon has an interest about potentially doing video production as a career.

Devin Witte

Staff Writer

Devin is a sophomore at USM. He is majoring in criminology while minoring in honors, Spanish, military science, and military history. This is his first year working with the Free Press as a writer. Outside of the Free Press, he is involved in USM as an RA, an athlete on the cross country, track, tennis, and volleyball teams, and a cadet in Army ROTC. He is originally from Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. A few of his favorite things include, Halloween and scary movies/attractions, his fiancé Addyson and his deaf Australian shepherd named Keller.

Ben Reed

Staff Writer

Ben (he/him) is a second-year junior in the social behavioral sciences program, with a concentration in counseling. He is from Vassalboro, ME, and has been a staff writer at the Free Press since the Fall ’21 semester. In addition to working with the Free Press, Ben is an RA on the Gorham campus, and a player on the USM Men’s Club Volleyball team. When he isn’t writing, Ben enjoys watching a good movie, hanging out with friends, hiking, and listening to music.