During my time as a reporting fellow at The City, I worked on a wide array of stories, both individually and with other reporters in the newsroom. In June, senior reporter Reuven Blau and I sifted through over 400 pages of prison death reports obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request covering May 2017 to January 2020. Through an analysis of these documents, we discovered an estimated 35 deaths could have been prevented or delayed had the incarcerated individual been given proper medical care. We wanted to add more than numbers to the story, so I got in contact with a twin sister of one of the incarcerated individuals who had died due to inadequate care, as well as a prison nurse who formed a close relationship with another incarcerated individual, who had died after the nurse on shift waited an hour to call an ambulance for one inmate.Both of these deeply personal stories with details about who these incarcerated individuals were — aside from their crime created a compelling narrative — forced readers to reckon with the their identity as human beings who deserved adequate medical care. This investigation fit with The City's mission by telling the story of New Yorkers for New Yorkers. Through this story, Blau and I were able to highlight an overlooked community and how the New York prison system fails to protect these individuals.

Throughout the summer, I was able to apply all of the skills I learned at Columbia Journalism School. One particular story where my reporting skills proved extremely useful was an inside look into how Black mental health providers were caring for their patients of color— in addition to themselves, following the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black individuals. At Columbia, I learned how to approach sensitive topics and adjust my reporting tactics accordingly. As a white woman, I do not have the same experience as the Black individuals I was interviewing, so I wanted to be extra cognizant of that and give my sources as much as time as they wanted to share their experiences. For this story, it was less about me asking questions and more about reporting through listening. I am grateful my time at Columbia gave me the tools to locate a unique story, approach sensitive topics with grace, and most importantly listen to my sources and their experiences. This, I believe, is the cornerstone of journalism.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was conquering my fear of “man on the street” reporting, especially when it comes to sensitive topics. Amidst Black Lives Matter protests, The City received a tip from a concerned parkgoer who found a noose in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. I was sent out to get reactions from parkgoers. Immediately, I was consumed with discomfort. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about this symbol of hate and ask people their thoughts when I knew the answer. I was nervous I would get yelled at for bringing something like this up during a time of heightened racial tensions. However, this was a job and I had to do it. I walked around the park for hours before approaching anyone, until finally I got up enough courage to ask a few individuals roaming the park. In the end, I realized the significance of adding these voices to the story. Their experiences, their reactions, and their stories were what brought the story to life. It was more than a noose found in a tree, it was about the sentiments of those that frequented the park and capturing their experiences of now feeling unwelcome in a park named after a celebrated Black figure, Marcus Garvey.

My 10 weeks with The City further strengthened my love for journalism and reaffirmed the significance of hyper-local reporting. Local reporting is the bread and butter of our industry. From the local level is where all national stories arise. From the local level is where the heartbeat of any story lies. I feel extremely privileged to be able to tell such a wide array of stories from fellow New Yorkers. My goal upon starting this fellowship was to immerse myself in communities and topics I knew little about. I reached this goal by reporting a story about women in the Hasidic community fighting for the right to operate an ambulance; writing a piece about the importance of tree pruning and what happens when tree care is ignored; and interviewing protestors about their encounters with NYPD. As this fellowship comes to a close, I look forward to using this unique experience to propel me forward as I continue to progress as a journalist in an unprecedented year.