A unique news organization

The Investigative Project on Race and Equity trains journalists in data-driven reporting and collaborates with news organizations to uncover systemic racism. Our partnerships add depth to the coverage of underrepresented communities and help to build capacity within newsrooms to pursue in-depth projects. By working together, we also expand the reach of reporting on race and equity and amplify its impact. 

Training includes apprenticeships for early-career journalists — with a focus on people of color — and workshops on finding stories in data and other investigative techniques. Our training mission is to help strengthen Chicago’s journalism ecosystem, while helping to build a pipeline of diverse journalists.

Using data and documents, the Investigative Project reports facts, not opinions. We offer proof of known patterns of abuse and failed oversight. And we elevate the voices of people affected by discrimination and inequality, while being respectful of the trauma they have endured. Our stories highlight solutions and share information that community members can use to effect change, including data that is hidden in plain sight.