PROPUBLICA announced on Thursday that Wandy K. Thomas, founder of a non -profit editorial office MLK50: Justice Through Journalismwill return to the outstanding Propublica program. Thomas will be engaged in investigative projects in partnership with Propublica, until April 2027.
“I am not glad to welcome Vendy to the local reporting network,” said Charles Orstein, head of the propublica editor on the local. “Wendy knows Memphis, knows south and was an important voice for those who are often ignored, properly violated and forcing those who can withstand uncomfortable truths.”
Thomas was a local partner propublica from 2019 to 2021, during this time its series “Profit from the poor“” Exposed the practice of collecting predatory debt of the largest health care system in Memphis and managed Hospital to retreat and eliminate patients’ debts. The series received the Selden Ring Award for reporting investigation, Gerald Loba Award for Local Reporting, Health Journalists Association for Business Report and Tied to the First Place for Investigators and Editors in Print/Internet Coats.
MLK50: Justice through journalism was founded in 2017 after Thomas conceived the idea during a scholarship at the Harvard Foundation Nianc for Journalism the year before. MLK50, launched from $ 3,000, has grown to an organization with an annual budget more than $ 2 million, making a measuring difference for the most vulnerable memes. Earlier, Thomas held the roles of the subway columnist and assistant head of the commercial appeal in Memphis, and she worked in “Charlotte observer”, “Tennessee” and “Indianapolis”. She is a graduate of the University of Batler and a proud product of the city schools of the Memphis.
In addition to the recognition she received for his work as a local reporting partner, Thomas -the winner of 2023 in the IF -medal for journalistic independence and the recipient of the 2022 reward for freedom of the national press champion. In recognition of her work on the creation of MLK50: justice through journalism, she received the National Association of the National Association of Black Journalists and Journalism and Journalism “and” Women’s Symposium 2018 “.
“Propublica has allowed me to do some of my career work and learn from some smart minds in business,” Thomas said. “I’m glad to return to create more” good troubles “on behalf of the most vulnerable residents of the city.”
A Local networking networkWhich began in 2018, now worked on more than 100 different projects with more than 80 editions. As part of the propublica 50 State InitiativeLast year announced, we will work with information organizations in each state over accountable stories over the next few years.
