Carrington York is the Daybreak Asia Reporter at Bloomberg News and an inaugural Ida B. Wells Society Investigative Reporting Fellow.

Learn more about Carrington in this Q&A.

Please describe your reporting project in less than 200 words.

My investigation explores the profit motives behind Delta 8 safety regulation efforts between two of the U.S. market’s biggest players. Trade groups on both sides — big alcohol and cannabis — are divided on how to keep harmful hemp THC products out of kids’ hands while keeping them selling.

What made you apply to this program?

I applied to the IBWS fellowship as an effort to learn about investigative methods from reporters I admire. Diving into such intimidating topics can seem daunting as an early-career journalist, so I consider the program an invaluable learning opportunity.

What is the most impactful investigative reporting tool/trick you learned through this fellowship?

The most impactful tool I’ve learned thus far has been the beginner coding, particularly the data scraping and analyzing with Pandas.

Why was it important to pursue/publish this story idea and what impact do you see it having?

Exploring the motives behind the market players in the Delta 8 industry is an effort to inform the public on the regulatory harms of the products we consume. It is my hope that Congress will update cannabis laws to streamline consumer safety guidance across the country.

Why is investigative journalism important to you?

Investigative journalism is the reason I pursued a career. This kind of work inspires action, and ultimately, change. We deserve to be informed about the world around us.