MaryJo Webster
maryjowebster.bsky.social
MaryJo Webster
@maryjowebster.bsky.social
Data journalist at the Minnesota Star Tribune. Mom to teenagers and two dogs. Passionate about investigative reporting & access to public data. #journalist #watchdog. www.maryjowebster.com
Send tips via Signal: maryjowebster.88
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
Registration is now open for #NICAR26! Join us March 5-8 in Indianapolis. It's a chance to level up your investigative and data skills, and connect with other journalists from newsrooms across the country. https://www.ire.org/training/conferences/nicar-2026/registration/

NICAR 2026 - Investigative Reporters & Editors
The 2026 NICAR Conference will take place March 5-8, 2026 in Indianapolis. The annual data journalism conference is hosted by IRE.
www.ire.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
We dropped bonus episode for "Ghost of a Chance" podcast today.

A group of strangers came together to grant the final wish of a woman they never knew

omny.fm/shows/ghost-...
The Headstone - Ghost of a Chance
When Eric realized Clementine Robinson never got the headstone that she wanted, it felt wrong. And he wasn’t the only one who felt that way. This is the story of how a group of strangers got together ...
omny.fm
November 12, 2025 at 12:41 AM
PLEASE VOTE! You have today or tomorrow to vote for the "Ghost of a Chance" podcast to win the Listener's Choice Award in the Signal Podcast Awards competition (for the History/series category). Right now we appear to be in 2nd place. Push us over the top! vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting...
The Signal Listener's Choice Award needs YOU
I just voted for this finalist to win a Signal Listener's Choice Award. You should too.
vote.signalaward.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
Yearbooks capture memories, reflect student life and document history. Student editors need the same protections and resources as any newsroom.

For #NationalYearbookWeek, our Yearbook Toolkit helps students understand copyright, censorship and their press rights. ➡️ https://splc.org/yearbooks/
October 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
ICYMI @startribune.com scoop: High-level White House official's texts on Signal, visible in a public place, revealed discussion to send elite Army division into Portland. www.startribune.com/trump-offici...
Trump officials discussed sending elite Army division to Portland, text messages show
A high-ranking White House official was indiscreetly texting about the Portland, Ore., planning last weekend, according to messages shared with the Minnesota Star Tribune.
www.startribune.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Today we unveiled a headstone for Clementine Robinson, 60 yrs after her death. After our podcast about her, listeners donated money to fill her wish. It was a beautiful tribute
October 4, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
I'd love to get 35 new free subscribers (then 200 more, but start small) to Gravity Is Gone, with my independent reporting and writing on science, politics, and policy. I got laid off a month ago, trying to build this, lfg!

www.gravityisgone.com

I published two things just yesterday; the first:
Breaking: HHS, Commerce, Probably Other Agencies Send Entire Staff Email Blaming Democrats for Shutdown
Please forgive the multiple editions in one day — occasionally I'll send breaking news out such as this. If you're new here, read more about the deal here and please subscribe below! On Tuesday after...
www.gravityisgone.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The podcast I worked on last year, "Ghost of a Chance," is a finalist in the Signal Podcast Awards! And that means we are eligible to also get a Listener's Choice award. but we need people to VOTE! vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting...
September 29, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
Investigative Reporters and Editors joins with numerous newsrooms and journalism organizations in condemning the Pentagon's new restrictions on reporters.

Read our full statement: www.ire.org/statement-on...
IRE statement on Pentagon press freedom constraints - Investigative Reporters & Editors
Investigative Reporters and Editors joins other journalism organizations in condemning the Pentagon's new press restrictions.
www.ire.org
September 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
KNKX Public Radio and Cascade PBS recently obtained thousands of pages of these logs from city officials in Washington state.

Now, MuckRock wants to know what agencies we should request ChatGPT logs from. www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
We want to know how local governments are using ChatGPT. Here’s how you can help.
Help us understand how governments use this latest technology.
www.muckrock.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
To give you a sense of how big the Strib’s possible redevelopment site is, it’s in yellow and the whole North Loop is in red. You could build a basketball arena there!
September 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
Minnesota Star Tribune to sell Minneapolis printing plant, lay off 125 workers www.startribune.com/minnesota-st...
Minnesota Star Tribune to sell Minneapolis printing plant, lay off 125 workers
The state’s largest media company will continue printing 7 days a week, but will outsource printing to Iowa.
www.startribune.com
September 8, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Minnesota's civic engagement is strong, even among our youngest: www.startribune.com/live-minneso...
Live: Minnesota students stage walkout to call for gun control after Annunciation shooting
Schools across Minnesota expected to join the demonstration.
www.startribune.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
ICYMI: So much great reporting by my colleagues at the @startribune.com following last week's horrific school shooting. Calling out this one, in particular: www.startribune.com/no-going-bac...
‘No going back.’ Minneapolis church shooter turned violent after sometimes turbulent upbringing.
She expressed love for her family, but knew they’d wonder how they could have missed obvious signs.
www.startribune.com
September 2, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
Great example by my intern, Karina Kumar, of using data analysis to go a little deeper on a timely story to make it better! www.startribune.com/rainy-summer...
Rainier summers are closing Minneapolis beaches more often as bacteria levels spike
Five beaches have been closed at least once this year. More likely to come in August, the month when closures are most common.
www.startribune.com
August 6, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
⚠️ Even journalists in countries considered democratic face surveillance risks.

🌐 Learn how to protect your journalism work and register in our new FREE course on digital security 👉 https://bit.ly/4jTVYoT
July 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by MaryJo Webster
Our Data Fellowship is now open for applications! This program offers training on data acquisition, cleaning, analysis and visualization led by some of the most skilled data reporters and journalism practitioners in the nation. Learn more: bit.ly/2025DataFell...
July 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM