Journalism Portfolio

I worked on the metro beat, writing breaking news and enterprise with a focus on stories about race and inequity in Jackson, Mississippi. During my 9 week internship, I published over 45 stories including multiple A1 and Sunday centerpiece articles. I scooped news on Jackson's public bus system strikes despite the mayor announcing there would be no strikes in a press conference. My investigative series on issues with the bus system, a controversial dam project and stories on lack of law enforcement in Jackson's neighborhoods of color made the mayor issue public statements.

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2024/08/07/one-lake-project-could-increase-flooding-for-some-parts-of-south-jackson/74631710007/

• canvassed over 200 homes to collect data and find sources in the community
• article made front page Sunday centerpiece
• after article came out, Jackson mayor gave a speech addressing the article at an Army Corps public meeting, Army Corps of Engineers held additional public meetings in economically disadvantaged areas to address induced flooding and extended public comment period

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2024/07/10/jackson-ms-jtran-public-transportation/74318500007/

• After my first article, my editors asked me to create a bus series. I covered all facets of taking the bus in Jackson including paratransit, bus management and scooping news on imminent bus strikes. As I got to know Jackson by bus, the daily commuters on my route became part of my news network and gave me tips. Some of my favorite stories, including the bus series and articles on a dam project impacting low-income neighborhoods, came from talking to the riders.

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/magnolia/2024/07/07/margaret-walker-lost-novel/74253383007/

• scooped feature on famous Mississippi author Margaret Walker's long lost novel receiving upcoming publication
• article made the Sunday front page centerpiece 

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2024/07/24/jackson-ms-residents-demand-ordinance-enforcement/74467877007/

• after my article was published, the mayor issued a statement saying the police department had allocated more resources to their newly formed illegal dumping division and that he would personally meet with the Association of South Jackson Neighborhoods (ASJN) 

I contribute enterprise and news coverage of the Georgia legislature and state politics through a combination of assignments and my own pitches to States Newsroom's Georgia branch. 

https://georgiarecorder.com/2023/09/22/georgia-ag-shrugs-off-open-records-violations-but-demands-local-das-enforce-all-laws-equally/

• worked off records on AG's response to mediation requests from a FOIA request
• story led to a lawsuit over public records against South Fulton County

https://georgiarecorder.com/2023/11/13/brick-and-mortar-reminder-of-georgias-mistreatment-of-psychiatric-patients-could-be-erased-soon/

• Picked up by Georgia Public Broadcasting (NPR/PBS): https://www.gpb.org/news/2023/11/13/brick-and-mortar-reminders-of-georgias-mistreatment-of-psychiatric-patients-could
• One of the most viewed stories ever on The Georgia Recorder website 

https://georgiarecorder.com/2023/12/26/congressional-ok-for-an-ocmulgee-mounds-national-park-could-be-in-store-in-2024/

• Picked up by Georgia Public Broadcasting (NPR/PBS): https://www.gpb.org/news/2023/12/27/congressional-ok-for-ocmulgee-mounds-national-park-could-be-in-store-in-2024

https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/03/28/georgia-shields-execution-sights-and-sounds-from-public-view-when-carrying-out-lethal-injection/

• Picked up by Georgia Public Broadcasting (NPR/PBS):

https://www.gpb.org/news/2024/03/28/georgia-shields-execution-sights-and-sounds-public-view-when-carrying-out-lethal

https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/05/14/peak-cicada-season-arrives-in-georgia-as-some-chefs-cook-up-bug-recipes-for-bold-diners/

• Found new angle on news story about cicada brood coming to Georgia about chefs experimenting with including cicadas in their dishes

https://georgiarecorder.com/2023/06/05/state-agencies-slow-to-reopen-public-meetings-to-in-person-access-dnr-reverts-to-pre-pandemic-ways/

• Picked up by Georgia Public Broadcasting (NPR/PBS): https://www.gpb.org/news/2023/06/05/state-agencies-slow-reopen-public-meetings-in-person-access-dnr-reverts-pre

https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/02/13/opponents-of-mine-near-okefenokee-consider-options-to-stop-it-after-state-epd-issued-draft-permits/

• Reported from state capitol on Okefenokee Day 
• Picked up by Georgia Public Broadcasting (NPR/PBS): https://www.gpb.org/news/2024/02/13/opponents-of-mine-near-okefenokee-consider-options-stop-it-after-state-epd-issued

I have been working as a staff writer at The Emory Wheel, my college's student newspaper, since the first few weeks of my freshman year. I served as an assistant section editor and as part of the editorial board before serving terms as opinion editor and features editor. I have also dabbled in illustration, web design and podcasting as needed.

https://emorywheel.com/andrew-fried-on-success-failure-and-everything-in-between/

https://emorywheel.com/speak-your-mind-free-speech-at-emory-on-the-eve-of-midterm-elections/

https://emorywheel.com/to-see-or-not-to-see-the-ongoing-debate-of-displaying-mummies-at-the-carlos-museum/

• also produced as a podcast episode (view it in my multimedia portfolio here)

https://emorywheel.com/short-story-dispenser-delights-students-at-woodruff-library/

https://emorywheel.com/need-an-uber-emorys-new-rideshare-website-has-you-covered/

https://emorywheel.com/caring-for-strangers-emory-helpline-offers-confidential-peer-support/

https://emorywheel.com/emory-invest-in-atlantas-transportation/

•  Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence National Editorial Writing Finalist (May 2022, awarded to newspaper based on this editorial, for which I was the main author)  

I interned at Bay News Rising as part of The Pacific Media Workers' Guild in San Francisco during the summer of 2022, working under professional Bay Area journalists to write a longform feature article while learning about the news industry.

https://baynewsrising.org/2022/09/16/not-a-learning-time-for-families-of-special-needs-kids-pandemic-era-remote-schooling-was-a-challenge/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/your-money/college-essays-on-money.html

• freelance essay for NYT

https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/techtransfer/2023/07/a-different-kind-of-translation-biology-english-and-an-ott-position/