AL.com has employed one other journalist by way of its increasing partnership with Report for America, a nationwide nonprofit that aids native newsrooms and sustainable journalism.
Sarah Swetlik might be AL.com’s gender and politics reporter. The brand new place will cowl the intersections of gender, fairness and energy in Alabama, a state on the heart of regional and nationwide conversations about politics, civil rights and tradition.
Report for America is a nationwide service program that locations journalists into native newsrooms to report on under-covered points and communities. It’s an initiative of The GroundTruth Challenge, a nonprofit journalism group.
“We’re grateful for the help from Report for America to assist us report and lead this dialog in Alabama,” mentioned Kelly Ann Scott, vice chairman of content material for Alabama Media Group.
Swetlik beforehand reported on public coverage for Contemporary Take Georgia, a digital information service on the Heart for Sustainable Journalism in Kennesaw, Georgia. Her protection of the state legislature has been featured by the Related Press, U.S. Information & World Report, the Atlanta Journal-Structure and Georgia Public Broadcasting. Her ardour for humanity-centered storytelling has allowed her to spotlight struggles just like the housing disaster in metro Atlanta and useful resource disparities impacting Georgia’s most susceptible. Swetlik, a Georgia native, obtained her bachelor’s diploma in journalism from Kennesaw State College in 2021.
AL.com beforehand has led the way on gathering ladies to speak about present points and elevating their voices within the media. The newsroom once more needs so as to add an elevated deal with the ladies making selections in Alabama, from either side of the political aisle, in addition to how coverage selections affect ladies across the state.
Swetlik will cowl the annual legislative session and journey the state to know how ladies affect, and are influenced by, coverage and political selections. She begins within the AL.com newsroom in June.
She additionally joins AL.com reporters Rebecca Griesbach and Savannah Tryens-Fernandes, who began working in the newsroom in 2021 and also are supported by Report for America. Griesbach and Tryens-Fernandes are a part of The Alabama Schooling Lab workforce and, over the previous 12 months, have written about literacy efforts, LGBTQ pupil points, historical past instruction and state faculties’ ongoing response to COVID-19, among other topics.
The AL.com newsroom seems ahead to persevering with to pursue tales with affect.
This 12 months, Report for America has positioned 300 journalists into greater than 200 newsrooms in all 50 states, based on the nonprofit.
“Report for America gives a singular alternative for journalists to pursue significant, native beat reporting that sadly is lacking from a lot of in the present day’s newsrooms,” mentioned Earl Johnson, director of admissions at Report for America. “Collectively, our rising and skilled corps members will produce tens of 1000’s of articles on critically undercovered subjects—faculties, authorities, healthcare, the atmosphere, communities of coloration, and extra.”
The three Report for America positions are supported by a mixture of grants and particular person donations. Report for America matches a portion of contributions. Donors don’t affect protection.
All three RFA corps members could also be supported by a person, tax-deductible contribution, which can be made online here. Electronic mail Editor Ruth Serven Smith to debate grant or partnership alternatives.
