Penn State Alumna Describes Personal Experience in the Restaurant Critic World

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State alumna and restaurant critic for the Detroit Free Press, Lyndsay Green, spoke at the Foster-Foreman Conference of Distinguished Writers on Oct. 24 at the HUB-Robeson Center.

Green provided insight to students while expressing her journey from journalism to restaurant criticism and finding her own writing voice along the way.

“It was never top of mind for me to ever infuse myself into any stories, it’s just not what I did,” Green said.

After graduating from Penn State as a print journalism major with experience writing pieces for beauty and fashion magazines such as Ebony and Teen Vogue, Green started off with the mindset that writing should not contain personal perspective.

After describing her path to developing Beauty Atlas, an online travel and fashion magazine, where she could write with a more personal voice, Green advised the students in the audience to remember everyone has a story to tell and individual voice matters.

“I wish I learned maybe sooner that it’s important to hone my own voice and share my own perspective,” Green said.

During the Q&A portion of the talk, a student journalist in the audience asked Green for input on how to be more observant to find stories to tell

“These stories are so much closer than you realize,” Green said.

Green continued on to explain that it’s not always about observations, but rather what a journalist finds themself discussing often with colleagues or even family members.

While holding personal writing style and observational skills to a high standard, Green also recommended journalists form quality relationships throughout their careers.

“I think seeking out people in an organic way and not a transactional way is important,” Green said.

With a background in journalism transitioning into food critic writing, Green contributed a different perspective to students about a career in writing and how to get there through connections and finding a passion.

Cassie Baylis is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email ceb6085@psu.edu.