Pictured: Craig Helmstetter, Managing Partner, APM Research Lab; Duchesne Drew, President Minnesota Public Radio & SVP American Public Media Group; Wellington Reiter, Senior Advisor to the President, Arizona State University & Founder of Ten Across; Rithwik Kalale, APM Research Lab's Ten Across Data Journalism Fellow.
I started with the APM Research Lab and Ten Across teams in mid-2023. At the time, I was almost done with a masters’ program and very unsure about a lot of things: the state of the world, what I’d do over the summer, and what type of job I could land with two (potential) degrees in mass communication following my undergrad. Through the help of an incredible professor, I was referred to the data journalism fellow position. To my surprise, I was hired but instantly was met with a wave of nervousness. For all intents and purposes, this would be my first real job. With a salary, benefits, deadlines and all. I had no experience with data journalism aside from a few classes, but I was willing to dive in and absorb as much as I could from the people around me.
The first couple months consisted of me trying to find a balance between prioritizing tasks for both teams. As someone who only ever reported to one boss or editor for my entire professional life, this was a challenge. However, as I found that balance, I also was able to take the time to research and understand what issues I really wanted to cover, and how it can be relevant to both the Lab and 10X. This culminated in my first piece about tree equity, a story I thought was relevant due to Arizona’s extremely high temperatures at the time. It was also inspired by a Vox video which discussed the glaring disparities in urban tree coverage.
At the Research Lab, I really learned how to balance quantitative analysis with qualitative inquiry, and how they could both be used to drive the story. For my piece about climate disasters and their impacts on insurance rates, I remember feeling overwhelmed at the amount of numbers available, as well as the differing perspectives on the issue from the sources I spoke to. Both the Lab and Ten Across teams really helped me shape that story from a pretty messy first draft into a well-structured and straightforward finished piece.
I have had some incredibly great experiences in this job. My first work trip to the 10X summit in L.A., where I wrote a two-part series on its water and electricity, was incredibly exciting. Working with people at the McCourtney Institute to bring overviews and analyses of their Mood of the Nation Polls was the most data I had ever worked with. I was even able to be fully in-charge of the Lab’s profile on the new social media platform Threads, drafting templates and posting strategies. As I switched my master’s program and was balancing full-time school, work and family obligations at times, I was nervous at how the people I worked with would react to my schedule. But everyone was always patient, understanding and supportive.
I will forever cherish my time with the Lab and with Ten Across. I learned so much as a reporter, a data analyst and a young professional. I wish the best of luck to the next fellow, and I cannot wait to see what amazing things the Lab and Ten Across continue to put out together.
-Rithwik Kalale.