Niemans @ Work

In Appalachia, radio reporter Benny Becker focuses on letting people narrate their own stories

In Appalachia, radio reporter Benny Becker focuses on letting people narrate their own stories

In my proposal for the new Abrams Nieman Fellowship for Local Investigative Journalism, I made one core commitment — to spend a lot of time on the road listening to…
April 16, 2020
Benny Becker
Fiction That Writes Its Way into Now: Eerily prescient stories mark launch of The Chronicles of Now founded by Tyler Cabot, NF ’14

Fiction That Writes Its Way into Now: Eerily prescient stories mark launch of The Chronicles of Now founded by Tyler Cabot, NF ’14

On March 5th, I woke up to a new short story by Roxane Gay in my inbox that felt post-apocalyptic: life in the U.S. 15 months into a coronavirus quarantine.…
April 13, 2020
Tyler Cabot
Amid a chilling political atmosphere, Turkey's new English-language news site covers what others won't

Amid a chilling political atmosphere, Turkey’s new English-language news site covers what others won’t

The pain of a journalist whose work is thrown into a deep dark hole by government gatekeepers deployed in a newsroom is like no other pain on earth. You hit…
February 3, 2020
Cansu Çamlibel
From dodging cattle to booming tech, LA Times’ Richard Read covers Washington state's divided people

From dodging cattle to booming tech, LA Times’ Richard Read covers Washington state’s divided people

During a roundup at the Diamond M Ranch the other day, I dodged a 1,000-pound Hereford and nearly landed on a cow pie.Hazards on assignment at the eastern Washington spread…
January 27, 2020
Richard Read
How rewriting history with a deepfake moon landing video could help spot misinformation

How rewriting history with a deepfake moon landing video could help spot misinformation

The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon was coming up. During a brainstorming session at Lippmann House, journalists and artists were throwing around ideas for potential…
January 17, 2020
Francesca Panetta
Uncovering a Pump and Dump Scheme: Jerry Zremski, NF ’00, put his business journalism expertise to use in reporting on a Congress member

Uncovering a Pump and Dump Scheme: Jerry Zremski, NF ’00, put his business journalism expertise to use in reporting on a Congress member

The first member of the House to endorse Donald Trump for president pleaded guilty to felony insider trading charges on October 1—and when it happened, friends started congratulating me.It’s all…
November 20, 2019
Jerry Zremski
Taking Another 37-Year-Old in New Directions: Nneka Nwosu Faison, NF ’18, leads a long-running TV newsmagazine show into the future

Taking Another 37-Year-Old in New Directions: Nneka Nwosu Faison, NF ’18, leads a long-running TV newsmagazine show into the future

I am standing, nervously, in the women’s bathroom. In just 20 minutes, the general manager of WCVB-TV will announce that I will be the next executive producer of “Chronicle,” the…
November 18, 2019
Nneka Nwosu Faison
“Your Train is Delayed. Why?”: Video journalist Alexandra Garcia, NF ’13, on telling a story of bureaucratic dysfunction with animation, original music, and a little hope

“Your Train is Delayed. Why?”: Video journalist Alexandra Garcia, NF ’13, on telling a story of bureaucratic dysfunction with animation, original music, and a little hope

It was the summer of 2017. New Yorkers never knew when we’d get anywhere. We texted “On the subway.” There was no need for “I’m going to be late.” That…
November 15, 2019
Alexandra Garcia
After 32 Years, Free at Last: Investigative journalism students taught by Jenifer McKim, NF ’08, play a key role in overturning a conviction

After 32 Years, Free at Last: Investigative journalism students taught by Jenifer McKim, NF ’08, play a key role in overturning a conviction

About five years ago, I received an unusual proposal.A convicted murderer contacted me to say he wanted to write for the New England Center for Investigative Reporting, the nonprofit news…
July 18, 2019
Jenifer McKim
Branching Out: With a podcast, Dina Kraft, NF ’12, taps her inner audio reporter to tell stories of friendship and connection between Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Arabs

Branching Out: With a podcast, Dina Kraft, NF ’12, taps her inner audio reporter to tell stories of friendship and connection between Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Arabs

I had long been a print reporter with a serious crush on audio. But until the opportunity to host a podcast fell in my lap, becoming someone who was lucky…
July 16, 2019
Dina Kraft