Midwest

Michael Indriolo

Michael Indriolo is a photographer and journalist based in Cleveland, Ohio. His work focuses on how people relate to community and the built environment in the Midwest. Michael has worked in journalism for about five years. He started out covering local government as a beat reporter before moving toward visual journalism. Through short documentaries and photo essays, he aims to amplify the everyday stories of Cleveland residents and document how policy decisions impact the city.

Alex Klaus

Alex Klaus is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit with a degree in urban studies and public history. In 2024, she covered education with a focus on literacy intervention efforts in the Detroit Public Schools Community District as an intern at Chalkbeat Detroit. She covered over 80 public meetings as a Detroit Documenter and served as a mentor in the network's "Docu-Mentors" program, building a video library of tutorials equipping other Documenters with a variety of tools to confidently cover meetings. As a freelancer for Outlier Media, she pitched a solutions-oriented policing and public safety newsletter in 2022 that became Streetlight Detroit. When she's not covering a public meeting, she's exploring nature preserves, cooking, baking, or hanging out with friends and her cat Dottie.

Amanda Venclovaite Pirani

Prior to joining Report for America, Pirani interned for New Hampshire Public Radio were she reported on topics ranging from state policy to backyard beekeeping. She also previously covered the New Hampshire statehouse and environmental issues interning for the New Hampshire Bulletin. In 2023, Pirani covered Republican campaigns freelancing for The New York Times. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and creative writing from the University of Michigan, where she covered the city of Ann Arbor for the Michigan Daily. When she's not reporting, Pirani enjoys hiking mountains and writing poetry

Brett Phelps

Before joining Mirror Indy, Brett Phelps documented stories in Boston and the New England area during his co-op at The Boston Globe. He also covered community news stories during his photojournalism internships at The Indianapolis Star, The Chautauquan Daily, and the Nelson County Schools. During college, Phelps served as the print and web visuals editor of Western Kentucky University’s Talisman cultural and lifestyle magazine. Phelps thrives on telling human-interest stories and has been recognized for his work by the Hearst Journalism Awards, White House News Photographers Association, Adobe Digital Edge Awards, Ohio Valley Emmys, Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar, College Photographer of the Year Award Program, National Press Photographers Foundation, and Associated Collegiate Press. He graduated in 2025 from Western Kentucky University with a B.A. in visual journalism and photography and a B.S. in marketing. In his personal time, he enjoys traveling, attending concerts, hiking, and playing the piano.

Chandra Colvin

Chandra Colvin covers Native News for Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) News. Born and raised in Minnesota, she previously interned for MPR News as a general reporter covering a range of beats and stories. She has freelanced for AMPERS Radio as a reporter and producer for Minnesota Native News and has contributed to the Minnesota Humanities Center’s project titled, “We Are Water MN.” In 2024, Colvin earned two bachelor’s degrees in mass communications and global studies from St. Cloud State University. She has contributed to student-run shows at the university as well as student-led newspaper, the University Chronicle. During her undergraduate experience, she studied abroad at Akita International University in Japan with a focus on ethics and rural studies. Colvin is Native American, and a proud member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa located in northern Minnesota.

Daniel Schoenherr

Daniel Schoenherr is a multimedia reporter and recent graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Journalism. Before joining Cadillac News, he reported for the Detroit Free Press through the American Communities Project, covering the cultural, socioeconomic and political shifts impacting working-class Michigan. At Bridge Michigan, he tracked municipal opioid settlement spending and helped uncover $90 million in unspent funds. Inspired by Bridge’s nonprofit funding model, he created and led a new role at the student-run State News—newsletter director—spearheading donation campaigns that raised thousands. Most recently, he contributed statewide reporting to more than a dozen Michigan news outlets through Capital News Service. Schoenherr first found his passion for local journalism as news director of WSDP Plymouth, where he kept the metro Detroit community informed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside the newsroom, he explores trails and waterways by foot, bike and kayak.

The Salt Lake Tribune

The Salt Lake Tribune is Utah’s largest daily newspaper, founded as an alternative voice in 1871. From air quality to cultural trends to analysis of the Utah Jazz, the news organization’s goal is to inform, enlighten and empower Utahns with news they can trust. The Salt Lake Tribune is Utah’s leader in accountability journalism and investigative reporting, consistently pushing for access, open records and transparency through requests, appeals, legislation and, when necessary, litigation.

The St. Louis American

The St. Louis American is a weekly newspaper established in 1928. It has grown to become the largest weekly in the state and a leading voice for the African-American community in the St. Louis area.

Coeur d’Alene Press

The Coeur d'Alene Press (or CDA Press) is a U.S. daily newspaper based out of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It is owned by the Hagadone Media Group and the flagship property of the Idaho Hagadone News Network. In addition to the Coeur d’Alene area, The Press provides local coverage for several Kootenai County cities such as Hayden, Post Falls, Rathdrum, Spirit Lake, Athol, Harrison, Bayview, Worley, and more.

WOUB Public Media

WOUB Public Media is a NPR and PBS affiliate licensed to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. WOUB serves 55 counties throughout Appalachian southeastern Ohio, western West Virginia and eastern Kentucky with its broadcast signals. By developing partnerships to expand news coverage, thinking outside the box and deepening the conversation, WOUB is providing diverse content to listeners and viewers across the region.