Grant Smith data journalist

NJ/NYC
grant@grantmeaccess.com
901-412-5997
I am an award-winning journalist with nearly a decade of professional experience, including six years as a data
reporter at a metro daily newspaper. I taught a web development course at the University of Memphis for four
years, and now teach interactive journalism courses at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. I'm currently
freelancing for a couple of investigative outfits, and I brew a fine beer.
Experience
The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn.
data reporter

Analyzed databases and GIS mapping for investigative stories, general

assignment reporting, developed interactive search tools and visualizations

Winner of the 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award
for investigative reporting for Cash Crop, an investigation of an oft-abused tax
subsidy program for farmland.

Occasional web producer, edited stories, photos, video, social media

Developed a story budgeting tool, member of newsroom change committee,

helped transition the website CMS from Django to EndPlay

Tenn. AP Managing Editors Award: 1st place for multimedia for Withers:
Exposed

Green Eyeshade Awards: Withers: Exposed won first place for best online
public service journalism and I'm Al Qaeda won second place for best public
service reporting online.

Sept. 2008 to
Dec. 2014

Connecticut Health Investigative Team

data reporter, freelance

Analyze data for investigations, build and update searchable databases

Nov. 2014 to
present

Florida Center for Investigative Reporting

data reporter, freelance

Analyze data for investigations and develop interactive data viz, which have
appeared in the Miami Herald, the Florida Times-Union and the Lakeland Ledger.

Sept. 2010 to
present

City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism

adjunct instructor

I teach Fundamentals of Interactive Journalism, in which students learn some

coding, mapping and the fundamentals of multimedia storytelling.

Co-teach a Craft of Journalism course, in which students put interactive skills to

further use telling great stories, combining writing and multimedia components.

Oct. 2014 to
present

University of Memphis School of Journalism

adjunct instructor

I taught students web development and Photoshop.

Jan. 2010 to
May 2014

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

intern data reporter

Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism Competition: Race gap found in pothole

June 2008-Sept.
2008

patching won second place for best investigative story or series

Gannett News Service
intern reporter

Analyzed Environmental Protection Agency data for a national investigation of

sewer system enforcement and infrastructure failure.

Assisted other reporters with their investigations, developed a searchable

database for the GNS Intranet.

Jan. 2008-April
2008

National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting

data analyst

Maintained government databases and documentation, and helped member

journalists with database analysis.

Aug. 2007-Dec.
2007

The Columbia Missourian

assistant city editor, enterprise reporter

Worked on enterprise reporting projects (Aug. 07-Dec. 07).

Wrote a Five Ideas column, in which the newspaper solicits reader input and
debate about controversial issues covered that week.

Mentored student reporters on the higher education and faith beats to develop
their reporting and writing skills while an assistant city editor (May 07-Aug. 07).

Web producer, occasional copy editor

May 2007-Dec.
2007

MyMissourian
coordinator, web developer

Citizen-journalism coordinator on the K12 education beat, worked on

community engagement and contributions

Designed the Schoolhouse Talk blog, a K12 information center.

Aug. 2007-Dec.
2007

The Dominion Post

reporter, copy editor, designer

Reported full time on higher education and health care.

Proofed stories and designed pages.

Produced a daily wire budget and proofed the paper as it rolled off the press.

July 2004-June
2006

The Charleston Daily Mail in W.Va.

intern reporter

Covered government and events in the paper's neighboring county.

As a Morgantown bureau reporter I filed stories about local events and people
that were of interest to the entire state.

Sept. 2002-Dec.
2002; May
2003-Aug. 2003

U92, university radio station

As a reporter, I wrote and edited news stories and read them live on air.

Oct. - Nov. 2000

The Daily Athenaeum

managing editor, news editor, associate news editor, reporter, columnist

Led the newsroom staff, which produced an award-winning daily newspaper

Reported on the university's administration and academics.

Best Reporter Award (2001/2002), Publishers Teammate Award (2003/2004),

Best All-Around Employee award (2002), Senior Service Award (2004)

Sept. 2000-May
2004

 Education
University of Missouri at Columbia, Mo.
Masters of Arts in Journalism

Studied computer-assisted and investigative reporting

Attended GIS Mapping Data for News Stories Boot Camp (Aug. 2007)

Teaching assistant for Principles of American Journalism (Aug. 2006-May 2007)

West Virginia University at Morgantown, W.Va.
Bachelor of Science

Journalism major; international and comparative politics minor

Contributor Cancer Stories: Lessons in Love, Loss & Hope, WVU Press 2005

SPJ student chapter president fall 2002-spring 2004

Member, Student Fees Committee

Edgar Maya Model Organization of American States delegate, D.C., 2004

2006-2008

2000-2004

Extracurricular education

Python Codeacademy

The Land Ethic Reclaimed: Perceptive Hunting, Aldo Leopold, and

Conservation Coursera

Annual professional development at the National Institute for Computer-Assisted

Reporting conference

Economics of Cuba 10 days in Cuba studying the economy and culture as a

capstone to a college course in March 2003
Other Activities
Ippies Awards 2015 judge

Co-judged Best Editorial/Commentary entries for this Center for Community

and Ethnic Media awards contest

May 2015

FuzzyBrew.com
blogger and web developer

Developed a homebrew and beer news website with two friends with whom I
brewed beer. The site was featured in the book Food Lovers' Guide to Memphis.

April 2010 to
present

West Virginia Press Association

Freedom of Information Act volunteer auditor

Conducted a FOIA audit at the Preston County Sheriff's Office, Board of

Education and County Commission

2005

Kearns Fellowship

Traveled to Budapest, Hungary, to cover the opening of the first Holocaust

museum in Eastern Europe for The Charleston Daily Mail.

2004

Boy Scouts of America

Eagle Scout, lifeguard, senior patrol leader and junior assistant scoutmaster,
quartermaster, assistant senior patrol leader

1996-2000