Renata Sago

Reporter

SHORT BIO

Renata Sago is a former reporter for Marketplace. She covered food culture and consumption. You could catch her on a pea farm in rural Minnesota, at a new burger spot in town, or in the alternative pasta aisle of a local grocery store with a microphone and a camera. Her stories explored new trends in food, including health, safety, disruption and moneeeeey.

What was your very first job?

I started a production company when I was 6 years old. I ran it from my grandmother's porch, with occasional assistance from my cat.

What do you think is the hardest part of your job that no one knows?

Making magic on tight deadlines is a mutha.

What advice do you wish someone had given you before you started this career?

Stay hydrated (also life advice).

What is something that everyone should own, no matter how much it costs?

You should own your voice, and every single bit of your story, past and present. They are priceless. Never give those up. They are what make you unique. (Existential, huh?)

Latest Stories (154)

Big tech and banks are using mea culpa ads to appeal to their users

May 18, 2018
When it comes to crisis management, one expert says apologies and promises are not enough

Travelers may see better deals this summer for a short window if going abroad

May 16, 2018
Lower airfares are making it easier to book travel to destinations across the Atlantic, especially to Europe, this summer. Competition between low-cost and traditional carriers are helping to bring prices down. But how long will this last? Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Florida's affordable housing shortage is a roadblock for Hurricane Maria evacuees

May 10, 2018
Puerto Ricans in FEMA's transitional shelter program worry about where they'll go when the program ends June 30.
Activists rally in support of Puerto Rican families displaced by Hurricane Maria on the steps of New York City Hall in April.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Low-wage workers are reviving Dr. King's 1968 Poor People's Campaign

May 8, 2018
Low-wage workers have jobs, but many still live in poverty. So thousands of them, along with clergy and activists, are working to try and change that.
Kentucky Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.
Courtesy of Steve Pavey

A national report shows blacks and Hispanics haven’t made big gains when it comes to equality

May 7, 2018
The National Urban League’s State of Black America report is an equality index that looks at gains and losses across sectors, including economics, health and education. According to the report, if we looked at equality with whites in the United States as a whole pie, black Americans are missing nearly a quarter of it, achieving […]

Home Depot takes a shot at tackling the construction labor shortage

Apr 30, 2018
Home Depot is investing $50 million into residential construction apprenticeships, but that still won't address the labor shortage.
Students at Fort Stewart will be prepared for residential construction jobs after a 12-week apprenticeship with the Home Builders Institute, sponsored by the Home Depot Foundation.
Renata Sago/Marketplace

U.S. oil companies take cautious approach despite higher prices and demand

Apr 27, 2018
With the U.S.-based oil giants Chevron Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. scheduled to release their first quarter 2018 earnings Friday morning, we look at the state of the oil industry. Companies are reaping the benefits from higher oil prices and demand. But what is big oil investing in these days, with an eye toward the future? Click […]

Does a tight labor market mean more jobs for young people?

Apr 19, 2018
With the weekly jobless claims out Thursday, we look at whether the tight labor market is creating opportunities for younger workers. Are employers more willing to look at — and train — younger workers? And are young workers prepared for the jobs that are available? Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Haitians with TPS help fuel Haiti's economy, one wire transfer at a time

Apr 17, 2018
Their protected status ends in 2019. If they have to leave the U.S., how might that affect Haiti’s economy?
Reynald Justance earns a living working in the kitchens at Disney World. He sends money to family and friends in Haiti at least once a week.
Renata Sago/Marketplace

A public-private partnership shapes the fate of two communities differently

Apr 16, 2018
President Donald Trump has talked about improving the nation’s infrastructure, using public-private partnerships to help pay for things like roads and bridges. Central Florida is an example of how this plan might work.
The original project to build Interstate 4 in Orlando began in 1958; its latest makeover is expected to finish in 2021.
Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation