Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
A native of Trumansburg in rural upstate New York, Elijah de Castro joined The People-Sentinel in July 2023 after graduating from Ithaca University with a degree in journalism.
Through partial funding from Report for America, he’s helping the newspaper cover Allendale County, which has lacked local news for a decade.
“The issues that face Allendale County are similar to the issues that my rural hometown in New York. Although our communities have different values, the crises we face are the same. My favorite thing about my job is going into the Allendale community and listening to the issues that people face, and then sharing them with the world, as their struggle is our struggle,” said Elijah.
With rural newspapers dying in some communities and the mainstream media ignoring issues faced by rural communities, Elijah believes it’s vital for rural communities to have reporters who approach coverage with accuracy and empathy. That’s why he’s glad to be part of the newspaper’s team.
Since moving to South Carolina, he’s enjoyed trying southern staples like sweet tea and boiled peanuts. He’s also enjoyed meeting farmers who genuinely care about their product and play important roles in the food supply.
Apart from being a journalist, he’s also a runner, a reader, and a biker. He also enjoys camping and rock climbing
