Shealyn Kilroy is a freelance multimedia journalist. Growing up in Northeast Philadelphia, Kilroy found a love of exploring the rest of the city where she became obsessed with the Philadelphia music scene. She continues to call the city home that has been contributed so much to who she is this very day.
Currently, Kilroy is a freelancing and running a mental health and music project, the only sound, where she retells her own lived experiences as examples of how we can learn to navigate our identities in music. Kilroy was once a reporter for the now shuttered Spirit News, writing features and conducting investigations in the communities of North Philadelphia. Kilroy worked alongside two nationally acclaimed reporters Ralph Cipriano and George Anastasia, covering crime and trials for BigTrial.net. Kilroy served as an intern at Philly Weekly, contributing to arts & entertainment and calendar pieces. Kilroy also holds bylines in PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com, The Declaration, and JUMP.
Kilroy completed her undergraduate time at Temple University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a certificate in Writing. During her time at Temple, Kilroy was on Dean’s List for seven consecutive semesters. Kilroy has been awarded the following for academic achievements in journalism: Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Scholarship, Coughlin Family Scholarship, and the John and Peggy Dotson Award. Kilroy has been inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, the national honor society for journalism and mass communication.
Kilroy is passionate about justice in and through reporting. Misunderstood and stigmatized communities – in terms of gender, sexuality, mental illness, disability, race, addiction – deserve humanity, sensitivity, and equal coverage, and Kilroy desires to provide that.
When Kilroy isn’t writing, she spends her time being anxious, running, and defending Wawa.
Kilroy hates writing about her own story. If you have questions or want to know more please contact her.
Shealyn Kilroy 