Prior to joining The New Bedford Light, Collins investigated everything from a statewide surveillance network to private prisons for The News & Observer, and dug into public records as the Dallas accountability reporter for the North Texas NPR affiliate. He started his career in graduate school working on a national investigation into police tactics with The Associated Press, which was later named a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Collins holds a master’s degree in investigative journalism from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Southern California. Before becoming a reporter, he was a professional musician who recorded and performed with artists including Solange Knowles and Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman, John Fogerty.
Beat: Oceans Reporter in New Bedford, Massachusetts
The South Coast of Massachusetts, anchored by the historic city of New Bedford, sits on Buzzards Bay, where the ocean defines life, culture, and industry. The New Bedford Light is seeking an Oceans reporter, whose beat goes beyond traditional “fishing” coverage to explore the region’s rapidly changing relationship with the sea. This role also covers ocean science and innovation; the growth of the blue economy; aquaculture and blue foods; and restoration and protection.