Francisco Vara-Orta
Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Investigative Reporters and Editors- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Credentials
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate
USF Corporate Training and Professional EducationJan, 2022- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Investigative Reporters and Editors
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Director of Diversity and Inclusion
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Sep 2021 - Present
Helping steer a nearly 50-year-old organization in a direction to be more inclusive externally and internally with the mission of making journalism better reflect the communities it serves, primarily through interactive training. Will review extensive curricula through an equity lens, rewriting some courses and creating new ones to expand opportunities for historically underrepresented communities. Bolster IRE’s relationships with partner organizations dedicated to more inclusive work and offer coaching to journalists working to be more culturally competent in their reporting, hiring and retention approaches. Show less
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Training Director
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Feb 2019 - Sep 2021
Train journalists in investigative reporting techniques, including data analysis, at in-depth boot camps, regional watchdog workshops, annual professional development conferences and custom training sessions.
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Civic News Company
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United States
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Internet News
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1 - 100 Employee
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National Reporter & Data Specialist
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Sep 2018 - Feb 2019
Hired to more closely cover several organizations working to influence schools nationwide and enable the organization to better use data to find and tell stories in all of Chalkbeat’s bureaus. Hired to more closely cover several organizations working to influence schools nationwide and enable the organization to better use data to find and tell stories in all of Chalkbeat’s bureaus.
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Education Week
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United States
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Internet News
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700 & Above Employee
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Data Specialist & Staff Writer
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Jun 2017 - Aug 2018
Covering philanthropy and resources in schools, parent involvement/community engagement, and conducting data-driven reporting and analysis. Coach reporters and staffers on how to best use data. Covering philanthropy and resources in schools, parent involvement/community engagement, and conducting data-driven reporting and analysis. Coach reporters and staffers on how to best use data.
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Education Week
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United States
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Internet News
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700 & Above Employee
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Contributing Writer
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Jan 2017 - Apr 2017
Worked on data and in-depth projects covering K-12 education as a spring fellow while completing master's degree. Worked on data and in-depth projects covering K-12 education as a spring fellow while completing master's degree.
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Investigative Reporters and Editors
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Researcher/Reporter
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Sep 2015 - Dec 2016
Working part-time doing research and data analysis for IRE and news outlets and journalists around the world partnering with our non-profit organization. Working part-time doing research and data analysis for IRE and news outlets and journalists around the world partnering with our non-profit organization.
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Investigate Midwest
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United States
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Media Production
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1 - 100 Employee
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Contributing Writer
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Jan 2016 - Nov 2016
Helping with investigative look into migrant housing and quality of life for workers in rural Missouri. Helping with investigative look into migrant housing and quality of life for workers in rural Missouri.
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San Antonio Express-News
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United States
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Newspaper Publishing
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200 - 300 Employee
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Staff Writer
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Feb 2011 - Jul 2015
Covering K-12 and higher education, including fourth largest school district in state, 19 independent school districts, and topics such as budget cuts, teachers, bilingual education, literacy and special needs Covering K-12 and higher education, including fourth largest school district in state, 19 independent school districts, and topics such as budget cuts, teachers, bilingual education, literacy and special needs
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Austin Business Journal
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United States
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Book and Periodical Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Staff Writer
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Feb 2010 - Feb 2011
Covering real estate, both commercial and residential, and initiated concentrated coverage of growing retail, restaurants and hospitality services in Austin market Juggling longer enterprise stories with three weekly assignments and daily breaking news, writing nearly everyday for website Covering real estate, both commercial and residential, and initiated concentrated coverage of growing retail, restaurants and hospitality services in Austin market Juggling longer enterprise stories with three weekly assignments and daily breaking news, writing nearly everyday for website
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Los Angeles Business Journal
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United States
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Newspaper Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Staff Writer
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Dec 2008 - Feb 2010
Cover trade, transportation and manufacturing including the largest port complex, largest auto market, and large manufacturing sector in U.S. during historic recession Had a weekly column either on trade/transportation or manufacturing Cover trade, transportation and manufacturing including the largest port complex, largest auto market, and large manufacturing sector in U.S. during historic recession Had a weekly column either on trade/transportation or manufacturing
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Los Angeles Times
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United States
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Newspaper Publishing
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700 & Above Employee
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Staff Writer
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Oct 2006 - Oct 2008
Worked on various beats: Higher Education/Religion, Health, Immigration, General Assignment, Latino communities, Gay issues, News Features, Online Breaking News Juggled longer enterprise stories with assigned dailies and breaking news feeds Participant in METPRO training program, then hired after competitive selection Pitched, wrote, and managed blog on pets/animals for Times titled L.A. Unleashed Worked on various beats: Higher Education/Religion, Health, Immigration, General Assignment, Latino communities, Gay issues, News Features, Online Breaking News Juggled longer enterprise stories with assigned dailies and breaking news feeds Participant in METPRO training program, then hired after competitive selection Pitched, wrote, and managed blog on pets/animals for Times titled L.A. Unleashed
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Austin American-Statesman
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United States
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Newspaper Publishing
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100 - 200 Employee
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Reporter
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Jun 2006 - Aug 2006
Internship focused on education, features, crime, and weekend general assignments Three A-1 stories: bilingual education, military education, and a federal judge profile Internship focused on education, features, crime, and weekend general assignments Three A-1 stories: bilingual education, military education, and a federal judge profile
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The Rattler
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San Antonio, Texas Area
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Editor-in-chief
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Oct 2002 - May 2006
Responsible for managing 65 staff members and semi-monthly production Started as editor-in-chief incoming freshman semester after newspaper closed Led team to win 127 national and state journalism awards during editorship Responsible for managing 65 staff members and semi-monthly production Started as editor-in-chief incoming freshman semester after newspaper closed Led team to win 127 national and state journalism awards during editorship
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Laredo Morning Times
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United States
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Advertising Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Reporter/Photographer
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May 2005 - Aug 2005
Responsible for stories and their photos/infographics in general news and features Managed and wrote annual United Way book of 24 profile stories on area agencies Responsible for stories and their photos/infographics in general news and features Managed and wrote annual United Way book of 24 profile stories on area agencies
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Reporter/Photographer
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Jul 2001 - Oct 2004
Responsible for stories/photos in news, investigative, features, and Latin entertainment Developed column “Senior Thoughts” on advice to college-bound HS students Worked full-time in summers; not an internship Responsible for stories/photos in news, investigative, features, and Latin entertainment Developed column “Senior Thoughts” on advice to college-bound HS students Worked full-time in summers; not an internship
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Education
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2015 - 2017
University of Missouri-Columbia
Master's Degree, Journalism, Data and Investigative Journalism -
2002 - 2006
St. Mary's University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English/Communication Arts; Latin American Studies
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