We are proud to announce the next class of the Local Investigations Fellowship. The program, which is led by Dean Baquet, a former executive editor of The New York Times, gives journalists the opportunity to produce signature investigative work focused on the state or region they’re reporting from. Their reporting will be published by The Times and made available free for co-publication by local newsrooms.
“It has been so rewarding to help reporters turn their ideas into stories, and to produce work that has a huge local impact,” said Baquet. “It has also been exciting to work closely with newsrooms across the country, to see how many of them are doing great coverage sometimes against the odds.”
Investigative reporting that was produced by the Fellowship has received national recognition since its launch. A yearlong examination of abuses by sheriffs departments in Mississippi is a finalist for the 2024 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, an award that recognizes journalism that has an impact on public policy in the U.S. at the national, regional or local level. The reporting is the most comprehensive examination of law enforcement misconduct in these communities to date.
The new fellows hail from California, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, Utah and Virginia. They are:
Christopher Damien, an investigative reporter for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., where he writes about the justice system in the Coachella Valley and beyond. Christopher will be reporting about law enforcement in Southern California’s inland and desert communities.
Taylor Tiamoyo Harris, a freelance journalist based in St. Louis. She previously worked for The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and was most recently a Juvenile Justice Fellow for the Pew Charitable Trusts and the National Association for Black Journalists. Taylor is a graduate of Howard University and will write about the courts and bail bond systems in the St. Louis area.
Brian Howey, an investigative reporter for The Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today. He has a master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism, and has written about policing, homelessness and conservation issues for local and national publications. Brian will examine local law enforcement agencies throughout Mississippi.
Sidnee King, a reporter for the Illinois Answers Project, a solutions-focused newsroom published by The Better Government Association in Chicago. Sidnee writes about how communities of color in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois are affected by the state’s policies and actions. She is a graduate of Howard University and will examine housing policies in the state.
Leia Larsen, a land and water use reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune in Utah. She has written about the intersection of politics and environmental issues in the West for more than a decade. Leia will examine environmental policies and proposals set forth by the state legislature.
Jolie McCullough, a freelance journalist based in Austin. She has written extensively about the state’s criminal justice system, from arrest to execution. She was most recently a reporter for The Texas Tribune and has deep roots in local reporting, including The Albuquerque Journal and The Arizona Republic. Jolie will examine the criminal justice system in rural Texas.
Laura C. Morel, a reporter for Reveal who writes about reproductive health. Laura was previously a reporter for The Tampa Bay Times, where she wrote about criminal justice. She is a two-time finalist for the Livingston Award. Laura will write about the impacts of abortion restrictions in Florida.
Ben Paviour, a reporter for VPM News, Virginia’s home for public media, who writes about courts and criminal justice. His reporting on state politics has been regularly featured on NPR programs including “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered” and “Up First.” Ben will examine Virginia’s judicial appointment system.
Cam Rodriguez, a data reporter for the Illinois Answers Project. Cam, who specializes in data and documents-driven investigative projects, will write about the proliferation of the trucking, shipping and logistics industries throughout the state.
Nate Rosenfield, an investigative reporter for The Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today. He was recently awarded a grant by the Brown Institute for Media Innovation to design a tool using large language models that will help reporters gain new insights into the regulatory process. Nate will examine local law enforcement agencies throughout Mississippi.
This year, one fellowship position will be funded by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, an Illinois-based nonprofit that supports investigative reporting at the state or local level.
“The experience of working on investigative stories with one of the world’s top newsrooms is a special opportunity for the Local Investigations Fellows and an investment in the future of local news,” said Anne Lazar, executive director of the Driehaus Foundation. “We are delighted to join The Times to support the professional growth of journalists working in Chicago and Illinois newsrooms, and bring their reporting to national audiences.”
The work produced by our fellows will be primarily edited by Dean; Chris Davis, deputy for the Local Investigative Reporting Fellowship; Kathleen McGrory, investigations editor; Adam Playford, data and investigations editor; and Rebecca Corbett, a senior investigative editor at The Times who has led some of the newsroom’s most ambitious and notable work, including allegations of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein. All have written and/or overseen Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism.
To support the data work of our fellows, Big Local News, a data-sharing journalism lab based at Stanford University, will be working with our fellows on obtaining and analyzing data for their projects and providing ongoing training on investigative data techniques.
The fellowship was introduced to help develop the next generation of reporters to produce accountability journalism at the local level. In addition to producing signature investigative work, fellows will receive frequent training opportunities to learn investigative reporting techniques, make trips to our New York offices and attend conferences for additional training and mentorship. Times editors will also visit fellows in their reporting regions.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are still being considered for inclusion in the 2024-25 cohort. Applicants interested in being considered for this year as well as for the 2025-26 group of fellows, can apply to the Local Investigations Fellowship here.
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