Hilde Lysiak author page

Hilde Lysiak biography

Hilde Kate Lysiak is an American journalist and author who gained national attention for founding and reporting for the Orange Street News (OSN), a local newspaper she launched at age seven in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Born in 2006 in Brooklyn, New York, she developed an early interest in journalism by accompanying her father, a former reporter for the New York Daily News, on assignments.

Initially covering community events, Lysiak’s reporting expanded to more serious topics. In April 2016, at age nine, she broke a homicide story in her town, publishing details hours before other media outlets. The coverage sparked both praise and criticism, with some questioning her involvement in crime reporting at a young age. In response, Lysiak defended her work and emphasized the importance of youth voices in journalism.

In 2019, while reporting in Patagonia, Arizona, Lysiak was confronted by a local marshal who falsely claimed it was illegal to film him. She recorded the interaction and published it online, highlighting issues of press freedom. The incident led to disciplinary action against the marshal and further solidified Lysiak’s reputation as an advocate for journalistic rights.

Lysiak co-authored the Hilde Cracks the Case series with her father, a collection of children’s books inspired by her reporting experiences. In April 2022, she released her memoir, Hilde on the Record, detailing her journey in journalism and the challenges she faced growing up in the public eye.

Her story inspired the Apple TV+ series Home Before Dark, which premiered in April 2020, featuring a young girl who uncovers a cold case in her hometown. Lysiak has received several accolades, including the 2019 Junior Zenger Award for Press Freedom, recognizing her commitment to the principles of journalism.