Adjunct Professor

• Jan 2022 - Present

I teach a course on Freedom of Information and government transparency in the spring semester. I teach a course on Freedom of Information and government transparency in the spring semester.

Owner

• Sep 2021 - Present

I manage www.thefriendlystatenews.com, which provides low-cost training in public records access and investigative techniques to small newsrooms, freelancers and students. Journalism training is often financially and culturally inaccessible to many journalists, and The Friendly State News hopes to connect these individuals with high-quality, well-taught journalism courses at an affordable price. I manage www.thefriendlystatenews.com, which provides low-cost training in public records access and investigative techniques to small newsrooms, freelancers and students. Journalism training is often financially and culturally inaccessible to many journalists, and The Friendly State News hopes to connect these individuals with high-quality, well-taught journalism courses at an affordable price.

Editorial Director

• Jan 2021 - Present

Votebeat is a newsroom covering election administration, voting rights and the transfer of power. Our newsroom began as a temporary pop up during 2020, and was continued as a two-year pilot before being fully funded in 2021. We have reporters and editors in Texas, DC, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Colorado. Votebeat is a newsroom covering election administration, voting rights and the transfer of power. Our newsroom began as a temporary pop up during 2020, and was continued as a two-year pilot before being fully funded in 2021. We have reporters and editors in Texas, DC, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Colorado.

Adjunct Faculty

• Jan 2021 - May 2021

I teach investigative journalism in the online program for Masters students. I teach investigative journalism in the online program for Masters students.

Adjunct Faculty

• Aug 2017 - May 2021

In the fall semester, I teach an introductory data journalism course to graduate students in the school's M.A. program. Lessons include instruction in public records requests, data management and analysis, basic programming and statistics. In the spring, I advise students in the M.S. program on their Masters theses. In the fall semester, I teach an introductory data journalism course to graduate students in the school's M.A. program. Lessons include instruction in public records requests, data management and analysis, basic programming and statistics. In the spring, I advise students in the M.S. program on their Masters theses.

Analyst

• Aug 2020 - Mar 2021

Political analyst for CNN, covering elections and voting rights during the 2020 election season. Political analyst for CNN, covering elections and voting rights during the 2020 election season.

Reporter

• Jun 2017 - Jan 2020

I cover national politics and the Trump administration with a focus on civil rights in the American south. I serve as the lead reporter and spokesperson for Electionland, ProPublica's collaborative journalism initiative focused on helping local reporters cover the act of voting.

Senior Reporting Fellow

• Sep 2016 - Jun 2017

Covering fair elections and voting rights. Was a lead reporter on our Electionland project, for which I also served as a spokesperson.

Health Care Reporting Fellow

• Jun 2016 - Sep 2016

I report on health care under the direction of Charles Ornstein.

Teaching Assistant - Data Journalism

• Aug 2016 - Dec 2016

Assist Professor Ben Lesser with an introductory data journalism class for Masters of Arts students at the journalism school. Lead lessons in beginning to advanced excel, SQL, web scraping, data visualization and basic statistics. Assist Professor Ben Lesser with an introductory data journalism class for Masters of Arts students at the journalism school. Lead lessons in beginning to advanced excel, SQL, web scraping, data visualization and basic statistics.

Freelance Journalist

• Aug 2012 - Sep 2016

Specialty coverage areas include education, health, politics and housing. My work has appeared in ProPublica, The Atlantic, Slate, The Dallas Morning News, WNYC, The Hechinger Report, Chalkbeat New York, Origination News, National Mortgage News and Mic.com among other publications. Specialty coverage areas include education, health, politics and housing. My work has appeared in ProPublica, The Atlantic, Slate, The Dallas Morning News, WNYC, The Hechinger Report, Chalkbeat New York, Origination News, National Mortgage News and Mic.com among other publications.

Education Reporter

• Jul 2015 - Jun 2016

I report on the money and politics of education for The Teacher Project, based out of Columbia Journalism School. Most of the project's stories publish at Slate. I report on the money and politics of education for The Teacher Project, based out of Columbia Journalism School. Most of the project's stories publish at Slate.

Teaching Assistant - Covering Campaign Finance

• Jan 2016 - May 2016

Assist Professors Ben Lesser (Reuters) and Robert Faturechi (ProPublica) with their investigative reporting course focused on campaign finance. Lead data workshops and tutorials for students using Excel, OpenRefine and SQL. Meet with students individually to offer reporting and writing guidance. Assist Professors Ben Lesser (Reuters) and Robert Faturechi (ProPublica) with their investigative reporting course focused on campaign finance. Lead data workshops and tutorials for students using Excel, OpenRefine and SQL. Meet with students individually to offer reporting and writing guidance.

Teacher

• Aug 2012 - Aug 2014

I taught freshmen world history as well as beginning through advanced debate at North Star College Preparatory High School, an inner city charter school in Newark New Jersey. I wrote four years worth of debate curricula for the elective course that was offered to all grade levels, and coached a competitive debate program that competed all over the tri-state area. The school is the highest scoring non-selective inner city charter school in the country, and the students have a 100 percent four year college acceptance rate their senior year. Show less

Freelance Politics and Breaking News Writer

• Feb 2013 - Mar 2014

I authored a weekly opinion article for PolicyMic's politics section, typically covering national or southern politics. One day per week I covered breaking news, typically writing four to five articles within a four hour timespan. I authored a weekly opinion article for PolicyMic's politics section, typically covering national or southern politics. One day per week I covered breaking news, typically writing four to five articles within a four hour timespan.

Real Estate Reporter

• Feb 2012 - Aug 2012

After three months at HousingWire, I moved from operating the REwired blog at HousingWire.com to covering the national real estate market for the magazine. I also acted as a video reporter for HousingWire, often shooting and editing my own video to add to the multiple layers of news available on our website. After three months at HousingWire, I moved from operating the REwired blog at HousingWire.com to covering the national real estate market for the magazine. I also acted as a video reporter for HousingWire, often shooting and editing my own video to add to the multiple layers of news available on our website.

Staff Writer

• Oct 2011 - Jan 2012

While at the Texas LawBook, I covered business law for lawyers in the DFW area. I also designed and operated the website, and maintained all social media accounts for the publication. While at the Texas LawBook, I covered business law for lawyers in the DFW area. I also designed and operated the website, and maintained all social media accounts for the publication.

Staff Writer

• Jul 2011 - Oct 2011

I compiled the leads section each week and assisted the research department in finding hard-to-find information about DFW-area businesses. Additionally, I wrote at least one story per week, usually in the Face Time or Enterprise Zone sections. I compiled the leads section each week and assisted the research department in finding hard-to-find information about DFW-area businesses. Additionally, I wrote at least one story per week, usually in the Face Time or Enterprise Zone sections.

Debate Coach

• May 2009 - Oct 2011

I regularly authored summaries of debate topics for Public Forum, Cross Examination, and Lincoln Douglas debate styles. As a speaker at Debate Central's numerous conferences for high school students, I spoke on debate topics and coached students on skills ranging from public speaking to judge adaptation. Additionally, I served as a coach and assistant director of five different summer debate camps hosted by Debate Central. This required writing detailed debate curriculum and creating targeted activities to help students improve their public speaking and argumentation skills. Show less

Online Editor

• May 2010 - Sep 2011

I managed the online content of the website including the facebook and twitter pages. I was responsible for putting the print product online on the night of production, and for facilitating communication and discussion with our online followers. I managed the online content of the website including the facebook and twitter pages. I was responsible for putting the print product online on the night of production, and for facilitating communication and discussion with our online followers.

Writer

• May 2011 - Jun 2011

I worked with the CBS11 broadcast team to produce packages for both the morning and evening broadcasts. In the process, I filmed several of my own pieces and worked with the editing team to learn efficient editing techniques. I also worked with the web team at CBS11/KTVT to produce fast pasted online news for DFW. Links to a few of the stories I pitched and wrote for CBS can be found below. I worked with the CBS11 broadcast team to produce packages for both the morning and evening broadcasts. In the process, I filmed several of my own pieces and worked with the editing team to learn efficient editing techniques. I also worked with the web team at CBS11/KTVT to produce fast pasted online news for DFW. Links to a few of the stories I pitched and wrote for CBS can be found below.

Staff Writer

• Jan 2011 - May 2011

While at the Dallas Morning News, I worked for the breaking news desk covering crime. In addition to the crime beat, I worked with the Metro section to produce feature stories on little-known communities in Dallas. My story on the Kalachandji's Hare Krishna Temple's community garden and restaurant was featured as the metro cover. That story, as well as a few others, are attached below. While at the Dallas Morning News, I worked for the breaking news desk covering crime. In addition to the crime beat, I worked with the Metro section to produce feature stories on little-known communities in Dallas. My story on the Kalachandji's Hare Krishna Temple's community garden and restaurant was featured as the metro cover. That story, as well as a few others, are attached below.

Local Politics Reporter

• Aug 2010 - May 2011

Intern

• Jun 2007 - Aug 2008

As an intern for Judge Robert Francis, I was able to become familiar with the judicial system first hand and gain experience in this field. On top of watching trials and familiarizing myself with the day to day workings of this court, I was able to assist Judge Francis with his campaign for the Texas Appellate Court. As an intern for Judge Robert Francis, I was able to become familiar with the judicial system first hand and gain experience in this field. On top of watching trials and familiarizing myself with the day to day workings of this court, I was able to assist Judge Francis with his campaign for the Texas Appellate Court.