IMMIGRATION PROJECT

Tucson, Arizona
March 15-19, 2018

 FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE 2019 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST, INVESTIGATIVE OR IN-DEPTH STORY SERIES CATEGORY

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FINALIST FOR THE 2018 SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS NATIONAL MARK OF EXCELLENCE AWARD, ONLINE IN-DEPTH REPORTING CATEGORY

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WINNER OF THE 2018 SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS REGION 9 MARK OF EXCELLENCE AWARD, ONLINE IN-DEPTH REPORTING CATEGORY

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FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE 2018 UTAH IDAHO SPOKANE ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATION CONTEST — DIVISION I, SERIES OR SPECIAL PROJECT CATEGORY 

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We had the idea during the winter semester of 2018: what if we could travel to the border and report directly on immigration issues? After a months-long research and grant approval process, and producing several pre-stories, we — myself, two other reporters, a photographer and our newsroom manager Carrie Moore — were on our way to Tucson. 

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During our time there, we spent a day on the Mexican side of the border town Nogales; visited the Inn Project, the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office  and a number of non-profits dedicated to helping immigrants; and interviewed teachers, religious leaders and local politicians, including the Mayor of Tucson. 

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This extraordinary trip was a highlight of my college experience. Not only did I come to care deeply about one of the nation's most pressing issues, but the intensity of the topic and the pace of our reporting reaffirmed in my mind more than ever before that journalism is powerful and makes an enormous difference to people, communities and countries. I'm indebted to the mentors, grant donors and fellow students that made this trip possible. 

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Upon returning home, we produced photo galleries and videos, and finished the main nine-story series we began before the trip. Scroll through to learn more: