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It’s my last day of work in 2020, and I want to share some highlights from a year of determined, often grueling reporting for @FERNnews that resulted in more than 50 stories and one massive (and ongoing) data project. My year-end thread:
As it was for so many reporters, my year was defined by the pandemic. Early on, I wrote about the question of food shortages ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/empty-shelves-will-soon-be-a-thing-of-the-past-says-grocery-supply-expert/), challenges facing farmers markets ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/as-coronavirus-spreads-farmers-fear-market-closures-and-lost-income/), and expanding SNAP purchasing online ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/most-snap-recipients-cant-buy-groceries-online-now-some-states-push-for-change/).
In April, I published my map and database of Covid-19 cases in the food system, which quickly became the defining project of my year. https://thefern.org/2020/04/mapping-covid-19-in-meat-and-food-processing-plants/
I’ve updated this map and data every day since April 22. To do so, I learned everything I could about data reporting, visualization software, and how to navigate public records — all while keeping this high-profile project afloat, and reporting many other stories.
I published as much data analysis as I could to help the public understand the virus’s impact in the food sector.
I wrote about meat companies declining to disclose case counts at their plants ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/as-more-meatpacking-workers-fall-ill-from-covid-19-meat-companies-decline-to-disclose-data/) and how that affected data trends ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/covid-19-cases-appear-to-be-slowing-at-meat-plants-but-companies-arent-releasing-test-results/).
I wrote about meat companies declining to disclose case counts at their plants ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/as-more-meatpacking-workers-fall-ill-from-covid-19-meat-companies-decline-to-disclose-data/) and how that affected data trends ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/covid-19-cases-appear-to-be-slowing-at-meat-plants-but-companies-arent-releasing-test-results/).
I wrote about how states, too, failed to disclose worker case data ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/few-states-release-data-about-covid-19-in-the-food-system/) and even rolled back more transparent data practices under industry pressure ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/states-are-rolling-back-recent-transparency-measures-in-how-they-report-meatpacking-plant-outbreaks/).
At major inflection points in the spring ( https://thefern.org/2020/06/covid-19-shows-no-sign-of-slowing-among-food-system-workers/) and fall ( https://thefern.org/2020/10/could-the-food-system-face-a-new-covid-19-wave-ahead/), I tried to understand whether we could expect cases to continue rising among food system workers.
And I wrote about how states should prepare to roll out the Covid vaccine to food system workers, overcoming trust and language barriers: https://thefern.org/2020/11/food-system-workers-may-get-early-access-to-a-covid-19-vaccine-but-how-should-states-prepare/
Amid all of that, I wrote one of the stories I’m most proud of in my career: a deep dive into the history of racism and exclusion at FFA (Future Farmers of America). I learned so much from the incredible young people who shared their stories with me. https://thefern.org/2020/09/at-the-nations-largest-student-farm-organization-a-reckoning-on-race/
Shortly after that story came out, FFA announced an ambitious plan to address diversity and inclusion among members and staff. https://thefern.org/ag_insider/ffa-rolls-out-ambitious-plan-to-address-lack-of-diversity-among-members-staff/
I also got to speak about my work in lots of interviews on podcasts, radio, and TV. I was so honored to help with the incredible @AJFaultLines episode on Covid in poultry plants:
My work on Covid mapping was even used for an episode of @patriotact (RIP). That was really exciting. https://twitter.com/leahjdouglas/status/1267545715129155586
I also got to speak about meat industry consolidation and other topics for ambitious episodes of Vox’s Future Perfect podcast ( https://www.vox.com/future-perfect-podcast/21363914/chicken-factory-farming-debt) and NowThis ( https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/who-is-big-meat/id1481265576?i=1000489083322). It was great to see outlets with big audiences tackle these issues.
A note on the Covid-19 map: the data I collected for this project was cited this year in dozens of news outlets, by many members of Congress, in numerous lawsuits, and elsewhere. I hope the attention stays on this issue in 2021. https://thefern.org/2020/04/mapping-covid-19-in-meat-and-food-processing-plants/
As of Dec. 17, over 77,000 food system workers have contracted Covid-19 and at least 347 have died.
And cases have been ticking up in recent weeks.
https://thefern.org/2020/04/mapping-covid-19-in-meat-and-food-processing-plants/
And cases have been ticking up in recent weeks.
https://thefern.org/2020/04/mapping-covid-19-in-meat-and-food-processing-plants/
In sum: This was a defining, difficult year for me. I learned and grew a huge amount, and I struggled under the weight of this work. I leaned on my close ones to handle the stress of covering massive, unending trauma. Still, I’m eager to continue forging ahead next year.
On that note, off to enjoy a hopefully-less-online two weeks with my puppy, a perpetually filled mug of hot coffee, and a stack of books. See you in 2021! 
