In this September 2015, photo provided by Matthew Lysiak, Hilde Kate Lysiak poses for a photo at her home in Selinsgrove, Pa. Lysiak, a 9-year-old reporter, recently wrote about a suspected murder in her small Pennsylvania town and is defending herself after some locals lashed out about a young girl covering violent crime. (Isabel Rose Lysiak via AP)Isabel Rose Lysiak/The Associated Press
A 9-year-old reporter who wrote about a suspected murder in her small Pennsylvania town is defending herself after some locals lashed out about a young girl covering violent crimes.
Hilde Kate Lysiak says she got a tip Saturday afternoon about something untoward happening on Ninth Street in her hometown of Selinsgrove, about 150 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
She went to the scene to get the details and posted a story and video clip on her website "Orange Street News" later that day.
Soon after, her Facebook page and YouTube channel were clogged with negative comments urging her to "play with dolls" and questioning her parents' judgment in letting her do such work.
Hilde says just because she's 9 doesn't mean she can't be a reporter.