Oakland resident Laura Hautala wants readers to see a connection between their lives and the news. That is why the aspiring journalist decided to enroll in UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, where she is determined to hone her reporting skills and deliver the news to her community. “While it is important to be informed about the world at large,” Hautala, 27, said, reading about “the direct world around you can help readers feel involved.” Originally from Tacoma, Washington, Hautala moved to Oakland after graduating from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California in 2005. Before starting at UC Berkeley, she spent two years working at local pizza parlor and writing for two Bay Area publications. “I feel connected to my community,” she said.