2023 Investigative & Public Service (Education-Only Outlets) Finalists
Kalyn Belsha
Chalkbeat
Too Many Kids: How an Online Tutoring Company Shortchanged Schools
- This online tutoring company says it offers expert one-on-one help. Students often get neither.
- Online tutoring company Paper loses statewide contract in New Mexico
- Hundreds of Las Vegas and Tampa area schools drop Paper’s online tutoring
Comments From the Judges:
“Strong narrative, impact, access to data and documents and centering that the pandemic continues to have so many ripple effects even if the general public and journalism seems to have moved on. This piece reminded me of the new era of factory worker exploitation we have seen time and time again and led to disenfranchisement of people trying to stay above water in their jobs.”
“A terrific investigation. All the on-the-record interviews were wonderful. It really showed how cutting corners led to a sub-par experience for the students and a waste of money for the school districts that contracted with the tutoring company, Paper.”
Daarel Burnette II, Adrienne Lu, Jacquelyn Elias, Audrey Williams June, J. Brian Charles, Sonel Cutler, Erin Gretzinger, Emma Hall, Maggie Hicks, Helen Huiskes, Forest Hunt, Katherine Mangan, Kate Marijolovic, Julian Roberts-Grmela, Zachary Schermele, Eva Surovell, Alecia Taylor & Megan Zahneis
The Chronicle of Higher Education
DEI Legislation Tracker
Comments From the Judges:
“This is arguably the most thorny issue in higher education and that zeroing in on those tentacles was brilliant and didn’t see any other outlet distill it down that way. The journalism spawned out of the tracker is compelling and will go down as authoritative as this publication is considered the paper of record for higher ed news in its own right.”
“Very cool visualization. A great idea, cleanly executed. The Chronicle of Higher Education has shown its leading the pack next to NYT, WSJ and WaPo documenting what has been happening on campus.”
Mark Keierleber
The 74
The Hidden Victims of School Cyberattacks
- Trove of L.A. students’ mental health records posted to dark web after cyber hack
- From campus rape cases to child abuse reports, ‘Worst-case’ data breach rocks MN schools
- How leaked school security maps could put Minneapolis kids in danger
- Why a new brand of cyberattack on Las Vegas schools should worry everyone
Comments From the Judges:
“Really appreciated the national focus here and following up. The piece had [a] strong narrative, use of data documents and got national attention. I read with awe of the reporting and anger at how it happened to those who are vulnerable on taxpayer dime. The 74 has grown into a sentinel on covering cybersecurity at school districts.”
“These stories are fully reported and explain how often the school districts fumble, first from ignorance and then from fear. They don’t adequately protect data – of students or former students – and then they often refuse to come clean about the consequences. A welldone investigation.”
Finalists
