Editor’s note: The New Era welcomes a new staffer, Brandon Cominsky, who arrived earlier this month to give us some help in covering
news. We’ve asked Brandon to introduce himself, since residents will very likely see him out in the community.
When I moved from Miami, Florida, to east Linn County, I traded stories about the moon for stories about Main Street.
The path that led me to The New Era covered thousands of miles and several seemingly different worlds. Over the past five years, I’ve balanced life as a collegiate swimmer, communications professional, and graduate student while pursuing opportunities that took me from pool decks across the country to the forefront of space exploration.
I grew up in Miami, Fl. and graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in May 2024 with two bachelor’s degrees, one in communication and one in interdisciplinary studies, before earning two master’s degrees, one in communication and one in public relations, from the University of Central Florida in May of this year.
During the summer of 2024, I joined The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an audio storytelling intern, contributing to two of the agency’s flagship podcasts, including NASA’s Curious Universe and Universo Curioso de la NASA, NASA’s first Spanish-language podcast.
That role immersed me in one of the world’s leading scientific organizations. I worked alongside producers, researchers, and communications professionals, while helping translate complex scientific discoveries into stories that audiences around the world could understand. Along the way, I met astronauts, engineers, and scientists whose work is helping shape the future of space exploration.
Following my internship, I joined Lunar-VISE, known as the Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer mission, as a communications specialist. The NASA-affiliated payload mission is preparing for a 2028 rover mission to investigate the moon’s Gruithuisen Domes. These unusual volcanic formations may yield new insights into lunar history and evolution.
Whether interviewing astronauts, collaborating with researchers or speaking with mission leaders, I’ve discovered that every breakthrough began with a human story. That realization has strengthened a passion for journalism that had been developing throughout my academic and professional career. It also led me to rural Oregon.
I’m drawn to local journalism and public-service reporting, and I’ve joined The New Era to focus on the stories that directly affect people’s daily lives.
While national headlines often dominate attention, I believe some of the most meaningful journalism happens in small communities, where decisions made by city councils, school boards and community organizations can shape the future of an entire town.
East Linn County offered an opportunity to tell those stories.
Outside the newsroom, I’m exploring Oregon’s mountains, forests and trails. I speak English and Spanish and I’m writing my first novel, scheduled for publication in March 2027.
Throughout my career, I’ve told stories from NASA laboratories, followed future lunar rover missions and covered discussions inside city council chambers.
No matter the setting, I believe every story worth telling begins with people. In east Linn County, he looks forward to telling theirs.