WRITING

Alex Frick

Before joining the Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader, Alex Frick studied journalism at the University of Florida. As a non-traditional student, Frick returned to school to pursue his reignited passion for storytelling and discovered journalism. While in college, he interned at the Leader, where he experienced firsthand the challenges of providing consistent and sufficient, high-quality local news coverage in rural areas. Frick was also one of 24 students from the United States selected by CNN to participate in a 10-day global crisis simulation in Abu Dhabi, joining 120 students from 20 countries to experience fast-paced reporting under pressure. Prior to his return to school, Frick worked in automotive management, following in his father’s footsteps where he developed valuable leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. He now brings that same drive, curiosity, and passion to covering real-life stories and pressing issues in Jefferson County.

Theo Wells-Spackman

Theo Wells-Spackman covers economic inequality in Vermont for VTDigger, where he previously reported on education, floods, and general news as an intern. Prior to joining that newsroom, he was production intern for the Trenton Project, a documentary series diving into the local history and culture of Trenton, New Jersey. He has also worked as a research intern for Facing History and Ourselves. His journalistic work began in high school, when he worked on a documentary covering gender bias in Vermont public schools for the program “What’s the Story?” He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Princeton University, where he was a producer and editor for the podcast section at the Daily Princetonian. He is from Weybridge, Vermont.

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

Lev Gringauz

Before joining Silicon Prairie News, Lev Gringauz reported on the Jewish communities of Minnesota and Cincinnati for Jewfolk, Inc., and was a regular freelancer for MinnPost, covering the business of media in Minnesota. His writing career started with making love songs for high school sweethearts. On a two-year leave of absence from college, he fell into journalism while exploring Ukraine and Belarus, where his parents were born. Lev cut his teeth with internships at The New York Jewish Week and MinnPost. As a freelancer he developed a niche in enterprise philanthropy reporting, while also writing stories on subjects ranging from cybersecurity issues to the intersection of AI and journalism. Lev speaks Russian (begrudgingly), has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota, and his favorite journalism movies are “The Paper” and “Spotlight.”

Priya Shahi

Before joining Rocky Mountain PBS, Priya Shahi was a reporter for the Staten Island Advance, covering public health and human-interest stories, including disparities in maternal health outcomes and the region’s response to the mental health crisis. Her passion for journalism began after moving from Nepal to Queens, New York — one of the world’s most diverse places — where every block held untold stories. Today, she holds a master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University.

Vahini Shori

Before joining WBHM, Vahini Shori was a graduate student at Columbia Journalism School, where she reported on arts, culture, ethics, and criminal justice. Her love for audio blossomed while working at Kaleidoscope, a podcast studio based in New York, where she helped produce narrative documentaries on Amazonian chocolate, Afghan musicians, and turbulent space missions. She graduated from Rutgers University with degrees in Political Science and Critical Intelligence. As a proud New Jerseyan, “The Sopranos” is her comfort show. Vahini enjoys reading, creating Spotify playlists, and learning new recipes.

Annie Bresee

Before becoming a Report For America Corp Member, Bresee was the editor of two community newspapers in Georgia and Alabama. While there, she covered issues like the local school boards' efforts to consolidate under a federal desegregation order, citizens protesting a proposed quarry, and abuse in a small town church. Bresee became interested in journalism late in college when she began writing for the university’s newspaper and would later write a long-form feature for her undergraduate thesis. She received her undergraduate degree from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. 

Lillian Avedian

Lillian Avedian covers education for the Nashville Banner. She is a former assistant editor and staff writer at the Armenian Weekly, where she reported on international politics, women’s rights, and diasporic identity. Her writing and reporting on the Middle East, North Africa, Russia, and the Caucasus has been published in Democracy in Exile, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Hetq, and Girls on Key Press, among other outlets. She has traveled to Morocco to report on the rise of women DJs and LGBTQ rights and to Armenia to cover the regional conflict and displacement crisis. Avedian holds master’s degrees in journalism and Near Eastern studies from New York University and bachelor’s degrees in peace and conflict studies and Slavic studies from the University of California, Berkeley. She is also a published poet with a deep love for Armenian feminist poetry.

Reuben M. Schafir

Reuben M. Schafir covers Indigenous communities in Maine for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered the county government and the environmental beats for the Durango Herald. There, he reported on environmental threats to water in Southwest Colorado, covered the state’s two federally recognized tribes and ensured accountability and transparency on the part of governments and elected officials. He won numerous awards from the Colorado Press Association and the Top of the Rockies Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for his reporting on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s experimenting with water-efficient crops, who is harmed when insurance companies and health systems don’t get along, innovative wildfire management practices, election coverage and more. When he’s not working sources, Reuben is an explorer of all things outdoors and likes pickin’ tunes on string instruments.

Amélie Horace

Prior to joining WUSF as an Audience Engagement producer, Amélie Horace reported on local news in Macon, Georgia. As a journalism student at Mercer University, she worked for the Macon Newsroom, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Macon Magazine, Macon Arts Alliance, and interned with local TV station 13WMAZ. She has covered local businesses, breaking news, community events, student programs, local and federal government proceedings, court cases, and profiles. In her senior year of college, she started a podcast on Waffle House stories, set to launch in 2025. She earned her bachelor's in journalism from Mercer University and was the campus news editor of The Cluster, the student newspaper.