Zack  Newman

                   Zack Newman

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                     E-Mail: zack@zacknewsman.com

 

                        

Journalistic Experience​

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FREELANCE INVESTIGATIVE DATA JOURNALIST                                              ZackNewsman, LLC / International / 2023 - Present

 

I regularly conduct investigative data work for either my own projects or as a resource on collaborative projects. 

• Leverage data analytics, records requests and sourcing to produce compelling investigative watchdog journalism for news organizations including The Colorado Sun, The Local, Collective Colorado, BusinessDesk, Colorado Public Radio, and The Denver Gazette.

• Merge qualitative and quantitative data techniques for analysis in R and SQL.

• Editor and researcher for The Conversation’s local news initiative. I work with scholars across the country to synthesize complex academic research into accessible articles with thousands of views – including two of their most-read stories.

• Conduct robust analysis in R to map and visualize findings for The Colorado Sun and BusinessDesk.

• Chosen by a panel of veteran investigators to receive a seed grant from the Fund for Investigative Journalism to dig into first responders in Colorado.

• Recurring contributor of data analysis and writing to Stacker, a wire service that distributes data journalism to a nationwide network of publishing partners.

• Teach students at Columbia University, Colorado College and Fairfield University data journalism principles.

 

 

INVESTIGATIVE DATA PRODUCER                                                                          9NEWS (KUSA-TV) / Colorado / 2019 - 2023

Acted as an off-air reporter working independently or in concert with other members of iconic investigative unit 9Wants To Know. I did complex data analysis, fought government agencies for open records, built sources, wrote for audiences on various platforms and executed comprehensive undercover investigations.

• Pushed data analysis skills in R, SQL, Excel, Flourish, ArcGIS and Google Sheets to analyze and visualize data obtained through open records requests.

• Winner of a 2022 Heartland Regional Emmy for my data analysis and reporting that identified nursing homes that were both paid and punished for doing both a good and bad job during the pandemic.

• Winner of national 2020 Edward R. Murrow Award for data reporting on “A Vivitrol ‘Success’ Story.”

• Taught data journalism to professionals and students through sessions hosted by Investigative Reporters and Editors, The Colorado Sun and the Colorado Broadcasters Association.

 

 

INVESTIGATIVE FIELD PRODUCER                                                                          Sky Blossom / Nationwide / 2018 - 2020

I reported from Alaska to Hawaii on this non-profit documentary about military caregivers. I handled logistics, filed records requests and ensured the success of shoots across the country.

• The documentary is streaming on Peacock, a NBCUniversal platform, and debuted in the Kennedy Center.

• Built sources within veteran communities.

• Requested and managed Freedom of Information Act requests with numerous government entities.

 

 

ANCHOR PRODUCER AND DIGITAL PRODUCER                                               MSNBC LIVE / New York / 2018 - 2019

I was a trusted resource for anchors and correspondents through MSNBC and NBC News. I was known as a reliable, thorough and tenacious researcher that added depth to broadcasts.

• Fact-checked statistics and produced various deep-dive segments about politics, socioeconomic phenomenons and other issues.

• Contributed research for MSNBC Legal Unit digital and broadcast pieces on the "Me Too" movement -- including Harvey Weinstein's arraignment.

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INVESTIGATIVE FELLOW                                                                                            ABC NEWS / New York / 2017 - 2018

I was a dogged and trusted analyst supporting the investigative unit in quick and long-term ventures. This included finding possible sources, field work and research to add depth in our pieces.

• Built complex data sets using FOIA requests. An investigation on ankle bracelets embraced these skills and aired on the newsmagazine program “20/20.”

• Employed editorial skills and knowledge of public documents to compile deep-dive and quick-turn research packets used on air.

 

 

INVESTIGATIVE AND GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER                             KOMU-TV / Missouri / 2013 - 2016

I cut my reporting teeth doing day-turns and enterprise pieces on everything from transportation to politics. This is where I learned to be relentless but that I can also catch more flies with honey than vinegar. And – interviews about one topic may actually lead to other follow-ups.

• Utilized computer assisted reporting tools to assemble long-form investigations.

• Worked collaboratively to contribute reporting and data components to other investigations in the unit.

• One-man-band responsible for video capture, editing using Avid and writing web stories/television scripts.​

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Education

 

University of Missouri

Bachelor of Journalism, Convergence Journalism | Emphasis in radio and television | Completed in July 2017

•  Chosen to be a member of the honor society Omicron Delta Kappa in April 2016. 

 

Extracurricular Activities                                                                                     

 

Investigative Reporters and Editors, 2020 - Present

•  Active member of Affordability committee. 

•  Mentor and instructor at various IRE and NICAR conferences. 

 

Report for America, 2022 - Present

•  Mentor for numerous corp members in newsrooms big and small across the United States. 

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Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout; 

•  Communications Merit Badge Instructor; Spring 2018

•  Eagle Scout; March 2013

 

Zaching Against Cancer Foundation, Ambassador; 2013 - Present

•  Helping to keep the memory of Zachary Michael Lederer alive and raise cancer awareness via photography events and fundraisers.

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ThirdKind Improv; 2019 - 2023, Improv Performer

• Member of a comedy team performing across Colorado.

• Latest home in eight years of doing improv comedy nationwide.

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MU Improv; September 2013 - December 2016

•  Performing member of the premiere long-form comedy group on Mizzou’s campus.

•  Continue improv education through classes at the Washington Improv Theater and Peoples Improv Theater. 

 

 Skills                                                                         

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• Data analysis in R, SQL, Excel, Google Sheets and others.                       

• Investigative reporting and writing for print and broadcast news organizations.

• Data visualization and mapping with DataWrapper, Flourish and ArcGIS.

• Comprehensive understanding of methods used to obtain documents and data through Colorado's open records laws and Freedom of Information Act requests.      

• Web scraping

• Field producing, including undercover shoots.

• AI tools to maximize efficiency, like Google Gemini and Pinpoint.                      

• Court document research with Nexis and PACER.

• Obtain data through API’s.

• Database design.

• Dossier creation with criminal and civil records with Nexis, PACER and advanced Google search. 

 

Awards
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• 2024 Business Feature award from the New Zealand Shareholders Association of Business Journalism            

• 2022 Heartland Regional Emmy.

• 2020 National Murrow.

• 2016 Sigma Delta Chi.

• Nominated for 10 regional Emmys for investigative data work.​