The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting has selected its inaugural cohort of fellows that includes 10 journalists from news organizations across the nation.
The group will begin attending the first of a series of weeklong training sessions on March 17 with some of the news industry’s top investigative reporters and editors. This will mark the fulfillment of an initiative that has been years in the making.
“We are so proud that this group of talented journalists will be our inaugural class for this amazing fellowship and opportunity,” said Topher Sanders, an award-winning investigative reporter with ProPublica and one of the co-founders of the Society.
Fellows will receive monthly training in Atlanta through July as they build investigative reporting skills while working on projects that their respective news organizations have agreed to publish upon completion.
The Society offers various professional development programs to help increase the number of traditionally underrepresented voices in the ranks of investigative journalism, with a particular focus on journalists of color.
Fellowships were awarded based on news reporting experience, applicants’ reporting philosophies, and the potential impact of investigative pitches applicants submitted.
“This program has the potential to be a game changer for our industry, which for years has claimed it struggled to identify and support talented journalists of color who want to regularly conduct investigations,” Sanders said. “The industry can say it struggles all it wants, but we found the talented reporters and with the support of their employers, we aim to help them fulfill their investigative ambitions.”
Sanders said he and other co-founders believe the quality of fellowship applicants bodes well for the initiative’s future, noting that it is open to individuals from all racial backgrounds.
“In one fell swoop we hope this program can increase the ranks of investigative journalists by a significant magnitude, and in doing so strengthen our industry and our democracy,” he said.
The inaugural class of fellows includes:
Caroline Beck is the K-12 education reporter covering the 11 Marion County school districts for the Indianapolis Star. Beck, born and raised in Indianapolis, previously was a Report for America corps member covering politics and state government for the Alabama Daily News in Montgomery. She graduated from Hanover College.
Zachary Bynum, founder of Justice Insights, focuses his work on exposing unjust power structures and amplifying marginalized voices. He has worked as a field correspondent, digital strategist, and contributing writer, covering such issues as voter suppression and corporate influence in politics. Bynum earned a master’s degree in political communication from American University.
Jonathan Custodio, a reporter for THE CITY based in New York, covers the Bronx and the City University of New York. He previously reported on national politics and policy for POLITICO and wrote about Afro Mexicans’ fight for visibility and recognition for the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. A Bronx native, he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Lehman College.
Gaige Davila, a Texas Rio Grande Valley freelance journalist, reports on environmental justice, politics and immigration. His reporting has been published in the Texas Observer, Deceleration, MySA.com, the San Antonio Current, NPR, Texas Public Radio, the Guardian, Mother Jones and more. He earned bachelor’s degrees in English and political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Williamena N. Kwapo, who is a reporter at the Sacramento Observer, covers issues impacting Black communities, including politics, education, health, and economic justice. She is particularly passionate about exploring historical context and its impact on today’s society. Raised in Detroit, she earned her bachelor’s degree in organizational studies from the University of Michigan and master’s degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley.
Reynaldo Leaños Jr., a producer at Latino USA based in New York City, recently covered the U.S.-Mexico border and immigration for Texas Public Radio. He previously was a freelance journalist, whose work appeared on PRX’s The World and Global Nation, NBC News, Texas Observer, Latino USA and KUT’s Texas Standard. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international studies from Texas State University and a master’s degree from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at City University of New York.
Daniel Parra, who is the Spanish language reporter and editor at City Limits in New York, covers Latino and immigrant communities and serves as co-host of the podcast El Diario Sin Límites. He earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a graduate certificate in journalism from Universidad Externado de Colombia in Bogotá, and master’s degrees in literature and journalism from the University of Alabama.
Tannistha Sinha, a Report for America corps member, covers education and politics at the Houston Defender. She previously completed an internship at BuzzFeed News, where she focused on socioeconomic issues, and served as a general assignment reporter for HousingWire Media. Sinha earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California, where she was a reporter and editor at the student-led Annenberg Media newsroom.
Carrington York, who is a Daybreak reporter at Bloomberg News in New York, analyzes financial markets’ reaction to geopolitical events to provide real-time insights for a global network of investors. She also has covered municipal bonds and commodities for Bloomberg and previously served as associate editor for the National Newspaper Publishers Association. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Howard University.
Kaisha Young, an Atlanta-based journalist, produces stories at PBS NewsHour. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and earned her master’s degree from Northwestern University, where she studied social justice and investigative reporting.
We look forward to the investigations our inaugural class of Fellows will produce!
