Idaho Education News has hired Colby Kistner to report on education news this summer.
Kistner comes from Florida, also known as the Sunshine State. He is currently a senior at the University of Florida, studying sports journalism.
Originally from Hollywood, Fla., Kistner began his journalism career in the spring of 2025 at WRUF, a radio and digital print station that covers Gators sports. He reported on different sports at two local high schools.
Last summer, Kistner did a remote internship for Nancy Solari, the founder of Living Full Out, a legally blind life coach based in California. He helped with show notes, promoted podcast guests, and wrote coaching content.
In the fall, he continued working for WRUF and was involved with UF’s Innovation News Center, creating radio content and freelancing for digital print.
Moving into the new year, Kistner joined The Independent Florida Alligator, the largest student-run newspaper in the country. Despite not knowing much about golf, he immersed himself in the sport during winter break.
Currently, Kistner still works for The Alligator, with several feature stories and sports pieces to his name.
His parents have various interesting professions, with his dad being a traffic ticket lawyer, his mom a physical therapist for young children, and his stepmother working at Estee Lauder in Florida.
Although originally from Broward County, Kistner has connections to the Mountain West through his stepfather’s Denver roots and family ties to Montana and Wyoming.
Kistner will cover a range of topics for Idaho Education News to inform and educate readers, stepping out of his usual reporting territory in the southernmost state.
Idaho Education News is a nonprofit digital news organization that provides critical information on issues affecting Idaho’s children to parents, educators, and lawmakers.
You can follow Kistner on Instagram @colbykistner64 or contact him at colby@idahoednews.org.
