Hi! My name is Layli Nazarova, and I am a junior in journalism with a minor in political science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, and during school, I live in Champaign, Illinois. 

I am a dedicated and experienced multimedia journalist who is passionate about telling unique stories about real people and their experiences. As a journalist, I believe it is my duty to find stories that people wouldn’t normally hear about, in the communities whose voices have been historically silenced, and tell them in ways that are understandable, engaging, and most importantly impactful.

Since the end of my freshman year, I’ve held the highest honors from my college as a James Scholar. I’ve also been nationally recognized by the highest of college-level national awards for my industry Hearst Journalism Foundation and recently placed fourth in the 2025 Hearst Journalism Awards Program National Audio Competition. 

My main interest lies in broadcast journalism, focusing on political and business reporting, as well as PR and crisis communication. 

As a journalist with a global perspective, my background growing up in Russia has deeply shaped my approach to reporting. Witnessing firsthand the impact of government policies on individuals sparked my passion for uncovering truth. My global approach and experience as a foreigner allows me to analyze stories through both domestic and international lenses, offering nuanced insights that resonate with a broader audience. Additionally, being fluent in both Russian and English, and having passive fluency in Ukrainian and French helps me to engage with diverse communities, conduct multilingual interviews, and bring underreported perspectives to light.

Oscar Wilde