CEO Learns From Gen Z Interns About Writing and Growth

When two teenage interns walked into Mexico News Daily's office in San Miguel de Allende this summer, CEO Travis Bembenek didn't expect them to teach him as much as he taught them. But watching 17-year-old Zella and 21-year-old Jared discover their voices as writers became the story.

Jared arrived from Chicago as a self-described introvert pursuing sports journalism at the University of Washington. His Spanish was rusty despite five years of classes, and he'd never visited Mexico before.

Zella grew up in San Miguel until age 15, speaks fluent Spanish, and will serve as editor-in-chief of her California boarding school newspaper this year. The two couldn't be more different, yet they shared something powerful.

Both interns' faces literally lit up when they wrote. "Writing is clearly a 'happy place' for both of them," Bembenek observed, watching them craft stories for the publication.

The experience revealed surprising insights about their generation's relationship with artificial intelligence. The teens recognized AI's convenience but worried about becoming dependent on it. MND banned AI writing but allowed AI research, creating a healthy boundary.

What concerned Bembenek more was discovering that neither intern regularly read books. Jared admitted he'd never finished a nonfiction book. So Bembenek handed him "The Last Emperor of Mexico" by Edward Shawcross. Jared loved it.

The interns also navigated their journalism careers differently than previous generations. They seemed hesitant to discuss how AI might reshape their professional futures, displaying what Bembenek called a refreshing yet concerning innocence.

Bembenek noticed stark differences in how the students were parented. Jared faced constant monitoring and check-ins from American administrators. Zella's parents, longtime Mexico residents, gave her more independence to grow through discomfort.

Why This Inspires

In an age when TikTok and Instagram replace reading, watching young people fall in love with writing feels revolutionary. Both interns demonstrated that Gen Z hasn't lost the ability to communicate deeply when given the chance.

Their enthusiasm proves that the written word still sparks joy and comprehension in ways that short videos cannot replicate. Writing remains what Bembenek calls "a wonderful demonstration of comprehension, communication and logic."

The real question isn't whether young people can write. These interns showed they absolutely can, and they love doing it. The challenge is whether society will continue creating spaces for them to develop this crucial skill.

As newsrooms across Mexico and beyond navigate AI's disruption, Jared and Zella remind us that human storytelling carries an irreplaceable spark that no algorithm can generate.