CUNY Graduate School of Journalism students, in conjunction with non-profit investigative news site City Limits, have delved into the past, present and future of arson in New York City. Arson was once only stories, retold through books and victims. But with hard work and determination we have spread it across a multimedia platform that includes articles, videos, photographs, timelines and documents. In a modern New York City that has moved past the burned buildings, we have decided to put it back on the page and show city residents, history buffs and anyone else how arson numbers may be reportedly lower, but the effects haven’t changed.
Melanie Bencosme is a modern day storyteller. She is studying international and interactive journalism in New York. Her work has appeared in the International Business Times, NBCLearn, Voices of NY and The Nabe. www.melaniebencosme.com
Briana Duggan reported for one of the country’s Top Ten NPR-affiliate stations, WFAE of Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was the arts reporter. She covered the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Her work has ranged from profiles – of a boxer who also recites poetry or a 86-year-old prison music teacher – to an investigative report on the city’s struggling arts funding environment. She is now studying at CUNY’s Graduate School of Journalism. www.brianaduggan.com
Ross Keith is a multimedia journalist with a focus on data-driven projects, web design and interactive graphics. He has written for the Mott Haven Herald and is currently pursuing interests in reporting and technology as a graduate student at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. www.rosskeith.com
Alessandra Malito is a freelance reporter in New York studying business and interactive journalism. She has been writing articles since she was 15 and a sophomore in high school, and has had more than 400 articles published in professional publications, including the Wall Street Journal Metropolis blog, NBCNews.com, NYT Lens blog, the Queens Chronicle, Newsday.com, Patch.com websites and Long Islander newspapers. www.malitomedia.com
Antonia Massa is a freelance reporter pursuing a master’s degree in business and economic reporting at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. She has written and worked for Thomson Reuters, USA Today, Quartz, Narratively, The Poughkeepsie Journal, Chronogram and Voices of New York. www.antoniamassa.com
Jenna O’Donnell‘s work has appeared in the Mott Haven Herald and DNAinfo, where she’s written about parks, the environment and bunnies. She concentrates on Health & Science reporting at CUNY and hopes to to produce weird and interesting stories while interning at the Daily News this summer. www.jennaodonnell.com
Steven Trader just completed his first year of a master’s program at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism in midtown Manhattan, where he focuses on business and feature writing and radio reporting. He is interning at WHYY radio in Philadelphia over the summer. When Steve’s not at school, you’ll likely find him on the rooftop of his Brooklyn apartment, in one of New York’s hundreds of pizza joints, or attending a nude yoga class. www.steventrader.com
Chasing Fires |