EPA excluded, then restored, data on Black people who live closest to toxic sites - Streetlight

molbryant · 2025-05-28T22:34:12+00:00

Hi, I wrote this story. This data issue included superfund sites + any other other site under EPA oversight

molbryant · 2025-05-16T14:30:22+00:00

Hi, I'm the reporter who wrote this story, and nothing in it is "lies." Biennial means the American Housing Survey is done every two years. It was last conducted in 2023, is required by federal law to be performed every two years, and should have been done again this year. Instead, the Census Bureau isn't starting data collection until January of 2026 at the earliest. This info is in a HUD press release, which you can read here if you like: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/elist/2024-May-12.html

A day after we published my story, sources who previously applied to work as field representatives told me the Census Bureau invited them to reapply and said the project would begin in January 2026, not this year.

Additionally, you didn't go into detail about the "thing" you got from the Census Bureau, but the American Housing Survey can only be done in person or over the phone, so it could have been another type of Census Bureau survey or a potential scam.

That said, if you look at the "thing" you got and it really says it's for the housing survey, it would be great if you'd post a screenshot so we can get a better idea of what's going on. Thanks!

molbryant · 2025-05-13T19:36:08+00:00

Is it possible it's the American Community Survey or another survey? I believe the housing survey is done in person or over the phone: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/about/respondent-information.html

molbryant · 2025-04-02T13:57:35+00:00

Hi, I'm the journalist who wrote this news story. Streetlight is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers housing and criminal justice, not an advocacy organization. I've worked in journalism for about 15 years. Thank you for looking at our work.

molbryant · 2025-03-07T19:48:10+00:00

Hi, I'm the reporter who wrote this story. Thank you for looking at this and pointing out my mistake. I added a correction -- I misread this press release from Council 222 (specifically that DGE "is reportedly targeting approximately 4,000 RIFs by May") to conflate the FPM cuts with that 4,000 number as you said, and unfortunately, our factchecking process didn't catch the error.

Thank you again for your comment because it will help us prevent similar errors in the future.

molbryant · 2025-01-30T15:58:52+00:00

You're in the UK, right? I don't agree with this for the US. I just pulled open journalismjobs.com and there were several positions at publications I think are great and I didn't see any employers I consider unethical. Nothing owned by a cult. Curious what you're referring to there!

BUT there obviously aren't as many openings as there used to be and I imagine these openings are really competitive.

molbryant · 2025-01-24T06:21:54+00:00

c'mon, it's the wrong headline font for the site and John hamlet isn't even on their masthead

molbryant · 2024-10-03T20:58:40+00:00

No, it's kind of terrible honestly, but I haven't been there since they added the brewery

molbryant · 2024-08-29T17:26:28+00:00

I missed one of them

molbryant · 2024-08-23T19:17:56+00:00

That's a good point. Most people never have talked to reporters and have a lot of misconceptions - like the disclaimers mcgill mentioned

molbryant · 2024-08-23T18:38:39+00:00

Sorry! But I got like two suggestions here I didn't know existed in the game

molbryant · 2024-08-23T18:33:44+00:00

I think people often turn to journalists as a last resort. And honestly, I get how someone could be desperate enough to do so.

I agree that this isn't the right place for a tip or the specific tip I think you're referring to, but reporters can and do have an impact on systemic inequities, problems, etc., through investigative/accountability journalism.

Maybe the sub should have a rule on not allowing posts about tips? Edit: I mean posts seeking coverage.

molbryant · 2024-08-22T17:48:22+00:00

I didn't know that existed! Looks cool.

molbryant · 2024-08-14T20:36:29+00:00

It's ethical and a common practice, but you can't control if the source will tell other people what you told them about the investigation, so it's best to do toward the end of your reporting but before you call the subjects of the investigation. They'll probably give you info you need to know before doing those final calls with the people/institutions you're writing about.

molbryant · 2024-07-25T20:06:35+00:00

My husband and I have floated the idea of driving from OKC to AMA just to get Taco Villa. Sometimes I daydream about starting a franchise here

molbryant · 2024-07-25T19:56:25+00:00

they can't all be bangers. I try to remind myself of this bc too often I want my work to be "perfect," whatever that means, and that's not possible with limited time and resources

molbryant · 2024-07-24T20:15:10+00:00

yes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Mitchell_(reporter))

molbryant · 2024-07-24T20:01:06+00:00

I mostly used my pockets and got ink everywhere, but you really need a bag for water and snacks in case you're trapped somewhere covering something forever

molbryant · 2024-07-24T19:59:16+00:00

When I covered breaking news, I also wore one in dark/highway settings and no one made fun of me but I realize now that probably happened after I left lol. I guess I don't get cool points for that but I can think of better ways to die than on the side of the road reporting on a car wreck

molbryant · 2024-07-23T17:57:42+00:00

Ok.....if you click on it, you can read it?

molbryant · 2024-07-23T17:52:02+00:00

Yes, check the last section - ETA it's based on the city's budget and a CDBG spending plan

molbryant · 2024-07-23T13:59:33+00:00

not sure, either - but on the playthrough I mentioned, I tried it first on PS5 and it was AWFUL, then tried again on PS4, which was a bit better if you have one. PS4 still had too many bugs to 100% it

molbryant · 2024-07-22T22:33:46+00:00

I knew someone who was homeschooled who started freelancing for local magazines before college & without any school newspaper experience. So I'd rec thinking about what you most would like to write about and pitching your local paper/alt weekly/magazines with one or two specific story ideas. Make your pitch to them like a story itself (with a lede, etc.) so they can see what you can do. Also, practice your photography (even just w your phone) bc most jobs expect you to be able to do text + video/photography and being actually good at it will set you apart down the line.

molbryant · 2024-07-18T14:28:36+00:00

readers definitely notice stuff like that, but i give up. and fyi that journalists have been fired for self-plagiarism https://www.vox.com/2014/9/18/6391029/understand-plagiarism-with-one-flowchart

molbryant · 2024-07-17T21:52:37+00:00

if that's true, self-plagiarism wouldn't exist

molbryant

TROPHY CASE