Corwi Selgrothe started as a holojournalist before switching to crafting propaganda for the Rebel Alliance. Previously, she worked as a reporter for the Imperial Press Corps within HoloNet News. Following the fall of the Galactic Republic in 19 BBY, the Galactic Empire recruited Selgrothe and other journalists. Initially, she was unaware of her employer's true intentions, but she eventually realized that the Imperial Press Corps was simply a tool for creating propaganda for the Empire. Selgrothe quietly resigned from her position and went into hiding, eventually defecting to the Rebellion after the Ghorman Massacre in 2 BBY, with the help of Mon Mothma.
As a rebel journalist, Selgrothe rose to prominence. One of her notable accomplishments was recording a holovid of Jyn Erso's motivational speech at Yavin 4. Later, she was present at the Rebel Alliance's Echo Base on Hoth, intending to capture more footage for future propaganda campaigns. She hoped to interview the Rebellion's three most celebrated figures, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo, but she only managed to briefly encounter Solo, who quickly dismissed her. Shortly after, the Empire discovered the base and attacked, forcing the rebels to evacuate. Because she had only recently arrived, Selgrothe was unfamiliar with the evacuation plan, and was assisted in her escape by a rebel soldier named L'cayo Llem. Inspired by the heroic actions of an ordinary soldier, Selgrothe began speaking with her fellow evacuees after they successfully escaped the Imperial fleet. While stationed on Hoth, Selgrothe also took a photograph documenting the final stages of the evacuation. Selgrothe maintained a friendship with the propaganda artist Janray Tessime.