2021 Beat Reporting (Midsize Newsroom) Finalists

Mila Koumpilova
Chalkbeat Chicago

Mila Koumpilova: Beat Reporting

• Three Chicago teens, one pandemic year: How COVID-19 widened education gaps for boys of color
• One counselor, 665 students: Counselors stretched at Chicago’s majority Latino schools
• ‘All of us are learning to do school again’: Chicago students return to campus during COVID surge
• In Chicago, shrinking majority Latino schools pose a key enrollment challenge
• How much COVID relief money will your Chicago school get? Here’s what we know.

Comments from the Judges

“A solid package of essential reporting during the pandemic recovery period, expertly told and substantiated with the perfect balance of data and on-the-ground reporting. I felt like I was being parachuted into schools, neighborhoods and the lives of vulnerable students.”

“Three Black and Latino teens, Leonel Gonzalez, Derrick Magee and Nathaniel Martinez, took my breath away, and [I] even got teary-eyed in this extraordinary story by Mila Koumpilova. Wow. The other stories in this group were exemplary as well.”

Olivia Krauth
The Courier Journal

Olivia Krauth: Beat Reporting

• This could be the last stop for busing in Louisville schools. Was it worth it?
• After years of contentious policy battles, Kentucky has school choice. What’s next?
• Thousands of JCPS teachers needed substitutes this school year. Many didn’t get them
• Louisville teacher in scuffle with student has history of misconduct, records show
• JCPS scrubbed references to critical race theory as controversy mounted, documents show

Comments from the Judges

“Olivia Krauth’s coverage of the education beat for the Louisville Courier Journal provided readers with well-researched, compelling stories that cut through the fog to make sense of a difficult year and divisive issues. And she communicated with readers through a variety of channels, including social media and a newsletter, to serve their needs for reliable information. The public and policymakers alike are fortunate to have Krauth on the education beat.”

“Olivia’s reporting demonstrates the nuts and bolts of local beat reporting as a metro daily (vs. a trade publication), and her use of a multi-platform approach to elevate her reporting and engage readers in her community is particularly notable; she has obviously achieved what beat reporters should be: to be a go-to valuable voice in their community.”

Kate McGee
The Texas Tribune

Higher Education in Texas

• “UT needs rich donors”: Emails show wealthy alumni supporting “Eyes of Texas” threatened to pull donations
• Colt McCoy joined forces with rich UT-Austin alumni to help pressure university to keep “The Eyes of Texas,” latest emails show
• UT-Austin working with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, conservative donors to create “limited government” think tank
• Pete Gallego’s relatively short tenure as president of Sul Ross University was mired in conflict — from the campus to the Texas Capitol
• Dwindling food, flooded halls, unflushable toilets: Texas’ university dorms descend into chaos during winter storm

Comments from the Judges

“This package demonstrates dogged reporting, sharp use of public records requests to highlight many corners of the university systems that operate behind the curtains. The writing was crisp and impactful, and the mix of stories show the range of a strong beat reporter.”

“Kate McGee of The Texas Tribune skillfully used public records to provide insights into issues that many public officials wanted to conceal, ranging from the Eyes of Texas song controversy to the rise of Liberty Institute to the early departure of a university president. Her relentless digging, combined with clear writing, served the public well.”

SEE THE FULL LIST OF 2021 CATEGORY FINALISTS