About Me!
Hi! I’m Chaya Tong, a journalist covering Austin City Hall for The Austin American-Statesman.
Before coming to Austin, I worked on the investigative team at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
I’ve also covered state politics for Politico and The Georgia Recorder, breaking news for The Daily Beast and race and equity at the Clarion Ledger/USA Today Network. I have investigated FBI civil rights cold cases for Atlanta’s NPR/PBS affiliate, WABE, and worked on investigative teams at The Chronicle of Higher Education and The Washington Post.
I’m originally from San Francisco, but I’ve reported across the country from both coasts and in the South. My reporting has been recognized with the Bill Minor Prize for Investigative Reporting, the Mississippi Press Association’s highest journalism award. I was also named a ProPublica Emerging Reporter for my work in investigative journalism.
I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University with a B.A. in English and biology.
When I’m not reporting, I love thrifting, sipping matcha lattes and exploring new cities :) Feel free to drop me a line at chaya.tong@statesman.com!
My most recent work for the Statesman can be found at: https://www.statesman.com/author/chaya-tong/
Featured Clips
One Lake Project could flood parts of South Jackson. Residents there had no idea
One Lake Project could flood parts of South Jackson. Residents there had no idea
One Lake Project could flood parts of South Jackson. Residents there had no idea
Austin’s top IT officials fired over side gigs — including work for Dallas
One Lake Project could flood parts of South Jackson. Residents there had no idea
One Lake Project could flood parts of South Jackson. Residents there had no idea
The Austin American-Statesman
CDC fired and rehired hundreds, then tasked them with tearing it down
One Lake Project could flood parts of South Jackson. Residents there had no idea
CDC fired and rehired hundreds, then tasked them with tearing it down
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Austin City Council 'Wrapped': What 2025’s voting record reveals
The South leads in hysterectomies — especially for Black women. Here’s why.
CDC fired and rehired hundreds, then tasked them with tearing it down
https://www.statesman.com/news/local/article/austin-city-council-voting-record-2025-21281935.php
The Austin American-Statesman
The South leads in hysterectomies — especially for Black women. Here’s why.
The South leads in hysterectomies — especially for Black women. Here’s why.
The South leads in hysterectomies — especially for Black women. Here’s why.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Meteorite hunters chase treasures after fireball streaks across Georgia
The South leads in hysterectomies — especially for Black women. Here’s why.
The South leads in hysterectomies — especially for Black women. Here’s why.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution