Alumni Spotlight - Danielle Pergament '92

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT - DANIELLE PERGAMENT '92

Danielle, currently a freelance travel writer, has been a journalist for nearly fifteen years; she has been published in a variety of publications including the New York Times, Allure, and GQ. After graduating from Cate in 1992, Danielle attended Duke University where she triple majored in English, Drama, and African Studies. Following her graduation from Duke, she moved to New York City to start her career as a professional journalist, writing for New Woman, Gloss.com, and Allure.

In 2005, Danielle decided to focus her time on freelance writing, primarily narrative, nonfiction pieces. When the travel restriction to Libya was lifted around that time, she saw an opportunity to write a story no one else had written. She flew to Libya where she met and interviewed Seif Qaddafi, son of Muammar Quaddafi (de facto leader of Libya since 1969). She wrote about it for W Magazine, GQ, and New York Magazine.

The transition from writing about beauty and fashion to culture and travel opened many new doors in Danielle's career. She moved with her husband, Devin, to Rome, where she began writing about Italy for the New York Times, National Geographic, and other notable publications. Now back in the States, Danielle currently resides in New York with her husband and their 11-month-old daughter, Frankie. You can read her articles on her website: www.daniellepergament.com.

1. In your experience as a journalist, what is the most interesting story you have ever covered?

I once wrote a story for Marie Claire magazine about middle class Iraqi women displaced by the war. With no source of income, they turn to prostitution. I went to Jordan for a few weeks and met with these women. What struck me the most was listening to them discuss their life before they were refugees. They had been educated professionals: translators for the U.S. Embassy, nurses, artists, even professors. But with the war, they could no longer find jobs with a stable source of income, so they turned to prostitution. Ironically, most of their clients were Western soldiers.

2. Did you always know you would be a writer? What attracted you to this profession?

Working in magazines seemed a logical step after college, and it wasn't until I spent time in the industry that I really began to enjoy what I was doing. I absolutely love being a freelance writer. When you work for a magazine, you have to be the voice of that magazine. Now I can have my own voice or at least try to.

3. What about travel? Was this also a passion?

I grew up traveling. My mother is Swedish, and I spent my childhood living in New York and spending the summers in Sweden. When it came time to go to high school, I (obviously) wound up at Cate in California. Traveling has always been a part of my life, so the idea of becoming a travel writer seemed to be the perfect fit.

4. Do you have suggestions for other Cate students or alumni interested in pursuing a career in this field?

First, if you want to be a print journalist (as opposed to broadcasting), I don't really think you need to go to graduate school. The best thing for your career is to get out and do work, find stories, get a byline, and have people recognize your name. Secondly, if you have a really good story that people will want to read, then you become valuable. Writing is so much about the reporting. If you can get a hold of something no one else can, you'll sell it. If you can sell one story, then you'll be able to sell another. You learn more by doing than by studying how to do it. I used to write down every little detail when I am interviewing someone – the clothes, the look in the room, the sounds, everything. Now I've learned what's important and what's not.

5. What is your favorite memory of Cate?

During the two years I lived in School House, we had a huge rivalry with the boys living in High House. We played all these practical jokes on each other; the boys once dumped buckets of water on us, we tied the handles of their dorm doors together and placed cups of honey and water all over the floor…..It was great, the teachers were even in on it.

Three years ago, [former Cate faculty member] Andy Campbell married my husband and me in Italy. He flew all the way out to this tiny town 3 hours north of Rome.

Other good memories? Getting sunburned before prom and the AM Club. I can't explain it but if you were in it, you know what I'm talking about.