WYPR is proud to be a host newsroom for a Report For America corps member. Bri Hatch, WYPR’s third Report For America corps member. Under the direction and mentorship of our WYPR’s Executive Director News, Danyell Irby, Hatch covers education and in her short time here she has already reported on various topics such as hate crimes in schools, student debt, and learning loss related to the pandemic. With the addition of Hatch to our newsroom, WYPR can continue efforts to reach diverse communities by providing the highest quality news and information to Maryland.
What is Report for America?
Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities. Launched in 2017, Report for America is creating a new, sustainable system that provides Americans with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable, and rebuild trust in the media. Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an award-winning nonprofit journalism organization with an established track record of training and supporting teams of emerging journalists around the world, including the recent launch of Report for the World in partnership with local newsrooms in India and Nigeria. With a mission to strengthen communities and our democracy through local journalism that is truthful, fearless, fair and smart, Report for America is taking on news deserts at scale. In 2021, they are deploying over 200 talented, service-oriented journalists to report on under-covered topics such as health, education, immigration, climate and justice. Corps members improve communities and hold powerful institutions accountable.
Where is the need?
The collapse of local journalism across our country has created a crisis for democracy. Many residents no longer get the information they need to understand the critical issues facing their community, to make good decisions for their family, and hold elected officials accountable. This problem is not going to be solved by a new phone app or an increase of a few pennies in digital ad rates.
How can YOU help?
Report for America leverages a 3:1 regional funding match model, paying half of a corps member’s salary and requiring the other half to come from WYPR directly and local and regional funders to contribute the final quarter. This approach promotes new models for shared investment in local journalism, increasing the chances of sustaining on-the-ground reporting, for the community, by the community. Consider a gift in support of Hatch's work today or a multi-year contribution to help WYPR fund her work for years to come or add an additional RFA Corps member to our news team. Please contact Carolyn Jewell at 410-235-1855 for more information on funding the future of journalism.
More about Bri Hatch
Bri Hatch reported on college diversity and student well-being for The Chronicle of Higher Education in 2022, earning a Hearst feature award for their piece about a misplaced Wizard of Oz dress. They served as the editor-in-chief for their college newspaper, breaking news about hazing and sexual assault cases.
Hatch also reported on local education tensions in rural Virginia for The Rockbridge Report, tackling critical race theory, book-banning and more.
Outside of the newsroom, they are obsessed with alt-indie music (notable exception: Taylor Swift), cozy coffee shops and autobiographies.
