Read on Twitter
Our team is about to get so much smaller. Let's talk about the incredible people we have to say goodbye to and highlight some of the amazing work they've done (hiring folks — take heed!): https://twitter.com/Curious_Kurz/status/1341517324105474048
Anyone who follows D.C. news knows @AndrewGiambrone — keen sense of news judgment and equally adept at editing and reporting. Remember how he just broke a HUGE story about D.C. cutting funding for homelessness services in the middle of the pandemic??! https://dcist.com/story/20/12/09/d-c-is-cutting-funding-for-homeless-services-as-covid-cases-surge/
The ultimate team player is @WhyBlitz — always willing to hop on a story and a magical ability to find sources, who he treats with empathy and care. I loved his look at D.C. hospital workers who got the vaccine: https://dcist.com/story/20/12/18/dc-healthcare-workers-pfizer-covid19-vaccine/
How does @nateclaydiller manage to turn abstract ideas into original, deeply thought-out stories with such verve and speed??! It's incredible! This local look at the Xmas tree shortage is but one example: https://dcist.com/story/20/12/03/local-christmas-tree-sellers-see-spike-business/
Having @mhbaskin on the team has meant a WEALTH of knowledge about FOIA and accountability journalism. In addition to her excellent editing, she has found time to report, like this story about where rents in D.C. are dropping (with a handy map, too!): https://dcist.com/story/20/12/07/this-map-shows-where-rents-are-dropping-in-d-c/
There is no question in my mind that @dawntheapl has the Midas touch — from the story-level with her genuinely mind boggling copyediting skills to the institution-level, training up an entire newsroom on SEO and leading projects like a new style guide with kindness and patience
If you've ever read a story published during our night shift, you've got @nstarobin to thank for making it happen. She also guided me thru a complex, difficult reporting project AND taught me (and so many others!) how to report an audio feature, all w/ open-heartedness and humor
Still can't believe I got to work with the iconic @KavithaCardoza, who constantly shows us what local journalism can do. Her powerful investigation into how @pgcps has handled an influx of undocumented students is but one example https://wamu.org/story/20/12/17/unaccompanied-minors-prince-georges-county-schools-trauma/
I am always impressed with @hschuster28's ability to break down complex topics into something easily understood — and she does it with a seemingly ever-growing beat!! Among my faves is her and @colleengrablick's look at quarantine pods as winter approached https://dcist.com/story/20/11/30/locals-making-quarantine-pods-covid19-dc-md-va/
. @eberkon is always willing to investigate a new path of inquiry to strengthen a story—and oh boy has she tackled some meaty topics this year, always keeping people at the center. Her look at musicians and activism was an instant classic: https://dcist.com/story/20/08/26/dc-local-musicians-activism-blm-plaza-chants-gogo-hip-hop-protests/
. @struppj was already a stellar digital journalist—this year she became an audio maven and a one-person database for COVID data. If you heard updates about COVID numbers on air, that was Julie keeping you informed https://dcist.com/story/20/12/09/virginia-record-covid-caseload-northam/
And last but definitely not least, @VOBOE, ably taking on a guns beat AND general assignment, as well as a deeply talent photographer. I think a lot about her exploration of how paid leave has changed the way its beneficiaries thought about caregiving: https://dcist.com/story/20/11/10/dc-paid-family-leave-caregiver-benefits/
Nothing else to say here other than this truly sucks, especially for these wonderful, talented people and for our audience
