The Roanoker March/April 2017 - 31

advanced classes, including pre-algebra) and an elite
soccer player, but thoroughly interested in journalism. As a kid journalist, DeVries hosts her online
show, "Three Questions with Ava Rosa," where she
interviews people in the Roanoke Valley.
Her mother, Afira DeVries, is the President and
CEO of United Way Roanoke Valley (see my "Lunch
With" interview on page 10), and her father Jason is
a financial advisor. They both support Rosa in any
way they can, and are constantly impressed by their
daughter's initiative.
"She's built her own little empire!" Afira says,
laughing. "I just need her to get good grades and
brush her hair! She's smart, but it's her emotional
commitment to trying to represent people by asking good questions and believing in journalism. I'm
so proud that she took on the mantle of an advocate
before anyone ever asked her to."
While her parents ground and protect her, they
may even occasionally edit DeVries' questions because
they are so serious, they're almost "pitbullish." Talk
about a hard-hitting journalist!
DeVries remembers sitting with her father in a Taco
Bell, talking about the idea of an online show and
wondering if it was something she could do. She was
10 at the time, and a year later, she already has about
15 interviews on her resume.
"I noticed there weren't a lot of kid journalists," she
says. "Even though there were a few, they didn't ask
questions I wanted to ask, serious, good questions."
Her goal was to talk to different, interesting people
in the area. Interviewees include Christ Hurst (previously of WDBJ7), Pearl Fu of Local Colors, politician Sam Rasoul, and her own mother. She even had
a chance to ask former "Star Trek" star and activist
George Takei a question during his visit to Roanoke
last year. DeVries says she thinks it makes her show
so much more interesting when she talks to different
people in the area.
"Anita Price was my first interview, and now she's
the vice mayor of Roanoke, which is pretty cool," she
says. "I also interviewed Mayor Bowers on his last day
in office. I got to sit in his chair!"
Shyness clearly isn't in her repertoire (though she
admits being interviewed for this article made her
more nervous than doing her own show!). Her favorite subject in school is writing; she loves to write
stories and talk in front of the class, as "something
about that makes her really happy!"
Her favorite interview was interviewing WDBJ7
news anchor Chris Hurst, where she learned a few tips
from the pro. Hurst did not want to see her questions
beforehand, and was willing to talk about anything,
including the circumstances surrounding the death
THEROANOKER.COM

"She's built her own little empire! I
just need her to get good grades and
brush her hair! She's smart, but it's
her emotional commitment to trying
to represent people by asking good
questions and believing in journalism.
I'm so proud that she took on the
mantle of an advocate before anyone
ever asked her to."

of WDBJ7 reporter and his girlfriend, Alison Parker.
"I was really worried about that, and it was only
my second show," DeVries says. "I asked him how
something like this happens, and how he can still
come into work and do a great job. I had another
question prepared, but he was willing to talk about
anything."
DeVries isn't afraid of the difficult questions, and
it isn't uncommon for interviewees to be surprised
at the depth of them. When she sat down with Sam
Rasoul, for example, she asked him about North Carolina's controversial House Bill 2 (HB2).
To prep for her show, DeVries sits down with her
parents and researches the interviewee from other
news articles and website information. Once they
have their questions, she figures out her written intro
spots, and takes a couple hours to prep. During the
interview process, she finalizes her outro, and what
she's learned thanks to the interview. Then it's up to
Dad spending a few late nights editing and putting
it all together!
Videos are posted to her YouTube Channel, Facebook page and her website. While the majority of her
views are via Facebook, she has plenty of YouTube
hits as well. Her yearly recap video showcasing her
2016 interviews and adventures, at time of print, has
already reached some 4,500 viewers.
"When we started, we had no idea if anyone would
watch it," she says. "It's awesome that people are actually watching my episodes and liking and sharing."
Despite her age difference, her love of Roanoke
sounds much like anyone else's. "I love that everyone's so close together and that it's easy to know
people. You can bump into anyone on the streets
because we're all close...I like the close-knit community here." I
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | 31

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