I spent the last several years of my newsroom career in data journalism, gaining experience in Excel, GIS and R along the way. These stories represent a sample of my data journalism work, incorporating census data, voting information and other publicly available datasets into stories that mattered to readers.
City of Renting
A series of stories that took an in-depth look at the housing situation in Reading, Pa. The series included an interactive map showing the areas of the city with the most renters.
City of Renting: Why Reading’s homeownership rate has fallen since 1970
- This story used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and local property tax records to get a thorough assessment of the history of home ownership in Reading, to determine why, in a city where real estate is cheaper than many of the surrounding areas, more people rent than own their homes. It includes an interactive map showing rates of home ownership by census tract.
Where they stand: Mayoral candidates on housing issues in Reading
- 2019 was an election year, so I wrote this article to show readers where the candidates, including the incumbent mayor (who was himself a landlord), stood on housing issues.
City of Renting: The challenges of owners and tenants in Reading
- This on-the-ground story featured interviews with renters, homeowners and housing advocates and experts around the city. They talked about what the abundance of rental properties has done to the city’s quality of life.
In Allentown, more people would rather rent than buy
Reading’s real estate transfer tax is the highest in Pennsylvania
The 17 biggest holders of rental properties in Reading
City of Renting: How Reading is learning from other places in drafting a housing strategy, and what Pottstown has already learned
Enterprise stories based on data reporting:
4 facts about Berks County that the 2020 Census revealed
Home values have risen by 10% or more in most of Berks County
Latest census numbers extend Pennsylvania’s losing streak in Congress
Incomes rise, poverty falls in Reading and Berks County, census data show
You need to make $17.83 an hour to afford a 2-bedroom apartment in Berks County, new report says
New census numbers show Berks County is older and has fewer residents of working age
Reading born, Reading bred? Census numbers show that’s less and less likely [Opinion]
Latinos now make up 23 percent of the Berks County population, new census numbers show
Berks County’s population is growing faster than the state’s
What it means for Reading to have the highest percentage of Latinos in Pa. (with Lisa Scheid)
Reading now the 4th largest city in Pennsylvania, according to census data
Since 2009, 19 tornadoes have hit Berks and surrounding counties; here’s where they struck [Map]
In winter, some roads are more accident prone than others; here are 5 of the worst in Berks
It’s not your imagination: Census figures show your commute is getting longer, Berks County
Reading’s poverty rate falls, but new Census numbers a mixed bag for Berks County [Graphics]
Advantage blue in 2 of 3 Berks County congressional districts
Adam-Richter.com 