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chinanu.bsky.social
Chinanu Okoli
@chinanu.bsky.social
37 followers 29 following 86 posts
He/Him. Twin. Reposts/likes/follows ≠ endorsements.
Journalist. Musician. Swiftie. Plantain Lover.
Different ≠ Deficient.
DM for Signal.
chinanuokoli.com
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chinanu.bsky.social
Summer is by FAR my least favorite season so I’m excited to welcome Fall today! 🍁🍎 Still masking because while short shorts, depression, & strawberries may be seasonal, COVID isn’t. Every reinfection exacerbates health outcomes & we’re not out of the woods yet w/ this pandemic.
Chinanu sitting on a train. He’s a black man with finger coiled hair & wears a white Vflex N95 & a black v-neck. Chinanu outside with his mask hanging on his neck. He’s a Black man with black finger-coils. Chinanu wears a black v-neck & a backpack with black straps. He’s on a residential road.
September 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
I have one that I keep in my backpack!!
Pamphlet-sized version of the U.S. Constitution in my hand.
September 18, 2025 at 7:31 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
When you’re proud of your banana chocolate chip cake so you post it on the internet (despite breaking a whisk, getting the cake stuck in the pan, & breaking a pouch of red icing). It almost looks as pretty as me (& that’s saying a lot because I’m very pretty, as you know).
Chinanu sitting & smiling with his cake. Chinanu’s a Black man wearing an N95 on his neck & a blue gingham shirt. His cake has write frosting, sprinkles on the side, & says “I need a job (and so do you)” Top-view of the cake. The cake has write frosting, sprinkles on the side, & says “I need a job (and so do you)” Slice of the cake. It’s a banana chocolate chip cake. It sits on a china dish with a floral border.
July 2, 2025 at 10:33 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
Also got to explore D.C. a bit too! Rode the Metro DAILY, visited the African Art Museum, ate Ethiopian food in Stanton Park, &... crossed the dark side (enjoyed a Boston Kreme donut from Krispy Kreme as a Massachusetts man who swears by Dunkin').
Front of the National Museum of African Art. A geometric-style rug leads into a stone-building with glass windows & a dome on top. A Yoruba crown made of cloth, iron, glass beads, & fiber. Different figures are positioned around the crown & what appears to be a bird is positioned on top. Shimbra Asa Wot in a takeout container. Chinanu holds a Boston Kreme donut. Chinanu's a Black man with cornrows. He wears sunglasses, an N95, a blue scarab necklace, a white v-neck, & an open black + white button-down.
June 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
Had a fantastic time at the POLITICO Journalism Institute. Nearly 40 sessions crammed into 10 days! I learned new reporting skills, connected with other journalists, helped out the transportation desk, & toured Capitol Hill, NPR, & NBC News Washington. What a wonderful time!!
The PJI cohort & John Harris standing in front of a red wall with the word "POLITICO" on it. The group stands at the end of a white staircase, besides glass windowpanes. Chinanu at NBC News Washington's newsroom, in a row of desks. This is where many D.C. newsroom standups take place. Chinanu wears cornrows, a white N95, a blue button-down, & a black tie with light-blue stripes. PJI cohort smiling together at the Tiny Desk at NPR. The three guys in front -- Chinanu included -- are squatting. PJI cohort smiling together in front of the road in front of the White House as the sun sets.
June 9, 2025 at 10:06 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
2/3 of POLITICO Journalism Institute down! Spent the last six days discussing journalism ethics, sharpening my reporting skills, touring Capitol Hill + NPR, & working on the transportation newsletter!

Forgot to take a newsroom pic today — busy day — but smiling in my room!

📸: Caleb Ogilvie (pic 3)
Chinanu smiles in his room. Chinanu is a Black man with black cornrows. He wears a plaid white, gray, & black shirt; a plaid gray, red, & black tie; a POLITICO lanyard; & a white N95 mask on his neck. Monday’s Transportation newsletter. Title is “How has the NTSB fared with DOGE?” Byline is Sam Ogozalek with help from Chinanu Okoli, Jesse Blaeser, & Oriana Pawlyk. Chinanu sits & adjusts a mic in an NPR studio. He wears headphones, a white N95 mask, a light-blue button-down, & a blue polka dot tie.
June 3, 2025 at 12:39 AM
chinanu.bsky.social
Thrilled to be part of this year’s POLITICO Journalism Institute!!! I’ll be in Washington, D.C. for ten days with 16 other students — we’ll receive TONS of hands-on training in politics & policy reporting. Let’s go!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾

@politico.com
Chinanu sitting in the airport. Chinanu is a Black man with his black hair in cornrows. He wears a white N95 mask, a light blue tee, & a blue blazer.
May 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
All my digital stories are in my posts on here & also linked in my bio — if you have any feedback, ideas for future stories, or just want to know more about my fellowship experience, please DM me!!

Oh & shoutout to literally *everyone* at the station for making sure I stayed moisturized 😂
Thread in WBUR Slack: Chinanu: Does anyone in this newsroom have lotion or moisturizer I could borrow? 😬 Meghan: there is a small silver tube of some on my desk! feel free to use it. and there isn't much left so also feel free to just use it up if you need to -- I have more at home. Steph Brown: I do too! Adeola Van Hamersfeld: Sure, feel free to stop by the MAD team area. Dan Guzman: I also have some at my desk Steph Brown: there will be no dry skin on this news team! Meghan: best moisturized news team in the biz! Continued thread. Chinanu: Me & my eczema are immensely grateful to you all 💛🫡 Courtney Keller: I have some hypoallergenic stuff on my desk - right across from the H&N studio. It's the one with the candy bowl. (Also you can take candy). Naomi Sobel: I have some over in MAD as well - unscented! First cubicle next to Mary Hull's office; I'll leave it out on my desk.
May 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
But I always — ALWAYS — looked forward to coming in, doing the work, & soaking up all this station had to offer. I’m still amazed at how much is accomplished here & even more amazed that I was able to be a part of it. Seriously.
Chinanu’s desk in the newsroom. The desk has a label on the divider that says “Chinanu Okoli, Education Reporting Fellow.” In front of the divider is a desktop monitor & keyboard; in front of that setup is Chinanu’s laptop, which currently displays WordPress & many other active tabs. To the right are a pile of sticky notes, paper towels, books, & a notebook. Other desks are visible showing the same or similar two-computer setups.
May 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
My fellowship @wbur.org wrapped up last week. So here’s a thread on what a formative, challenging, & thrilling experience it was!
Chinanu & Suevon in front of the meeting table & monitor. Chinanu is a Black man with kinky black hair. He wears a white N95 mask & a yellow polo with white & black stripes. Suevon is an Asian woman with wavy black hair tied back in a bun. She wears a pink sweater. The two stand in front of a long table with a keyboard, fake flowers, & Jenga block towers. Behind the table is a monitor that shows a spreadsheet & a Zoom Workplace window. Chinanu, standing & holding a WBUR sticker in the lobby. Chinanu is a Black man with kinky black hair covered by a yellow bandana. He also wears a white N95 mask, a blue jacket, a gray coat &, over his right shoulder, a tote bag & a backpack. He holds the sticker in his left hand — it’s an oval that reads “90.9 WBUR, Boston’s NPR News Station.” Behind Chinanu is part of the lobby — glass doors, while walls & ceiling, & part of the reception desk.
May 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
It feels like a perfect night for breakfast at midnight! #22
Chinanu, holding a plate of pancakes & smiling, almost deviously. Chinanu is a Black man with cornrows. He wears a deep blue polo with white sharks & tan pants. He holds a plate of two pancakes with syrup on them & a fork & knife on either side. The plate is fine china — pink flowers with green leaves decorate the rim. Chinanu sits in the kitchen.
May 12, 2025 at 4:00 AM
chinanu.bsky.social
Need one of my rail fan followers to tell me who this Red line conductor is, they’re giving “thank you for riding the Teeeeee” Green line conductor a run for his money! @mbta.com, who is this person?
April 19, 2025 at 11:11 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
6.5 hours of radio complete!! My LONGEST on-air shift ever. I need a nap!

Thanks for listening in this morning!! #Vinylthon continues all weekend long on WTBU — I hope you’ll make us a part of your #RSD2025
Chinanu standing in front of a staircase & hallway. Chinanu is a Black man with kinky black hair. He wears a white N95 mask, a black poncho, a tote bag & backpack strap on his right shoulder, & a water jug in his elbow. The hallway behind him has an array of framed photos & the red-violet stairs to his left ascend next to a white & gray wall
April 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
About to enter the Hour of Power!! Five & a half down, one more to go for me with #Vinylthon on WTBU today!! Finishing the A-side of Luther Vandross’ 1982 LP right now — my friend & WTBU alum Kevin joins me next hour & we finish Donna Summer’s 1983 LP! Tune in til 10:00 AM!
wtburadio.org
Chinanu in studio. Chinanu is a Black man with kinky Black hair. He wears a white N95 & a yellow polo. His arm is up & there is a collage & vinyls behind him.
April 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
First time listening to “Got A Date” by Dionne Warwick… this is why you don’t let Chinanu in the studio by himself overnight 💀 But in case anyone needed to know how I’m faring this first hour or two, now you know that I’m good! #Vinylthon #RecordStoreDay
April 12, 2025 at 9:24 AM
chinanu.bsky.social
About to get on the air for SIX HOURS on WTBU for #Vinylthon this #RecordStoreDay2025! I’m spinning Donna Summer, Dionne Warwick, Luther Vandross, Chicago, & The Temptations!

Listen live from 4:00-10:00 AM EST! Call in at (617)353-6400!

wtburadio.org
Chinanu in studio. Chinanu is a Black man with kinky black hair. He wears a white N95 mask on his face & a yellow polo underneath his blue Randolph band/chorus jacket. The walls behind him are gray & soundproofed with rectangular panels.
April 12, 2025 at 7:54 AM
chinanu.bsky.social
Went to teen empowerment non-profit Arts for Humanity this AM where high schoolers from across Boston kicked off a city-wide competition designed to get them to address key social issues *they* see in *their* communities. #AspenChallenge
@wbur.org @aspeninstitute.bsky.social
Aspen Challenge event room. Dozens of students, speakers, & organizers sitting & talking at tables or walking around as they wait for opening remarks for the Aspen Challenge to begin. There are screens around the room showing students’ faces & the word “Boston” stylized in block varsity letters. Katie Fitzgerald, managing director of Aspen Challenge, speaking to the room. She is a White woman standing at center stage in front of the stylized "Boston." To her left & her right are screens magnifying her so the entire audience can see. Students & adults are sitting at the roundtables.
February 13, 2025 at 10:50 PM
chinanu.bsky.social
Accessibility has a long way to go at Boston University. Academic accommodations, housing, ASL interpretation, food — people we spoke with said all need improvement.

Mady Swearing & I spent MONTHS on this Daily Free Press investigation — hope you read it!

dailyfreepress.com/2025/02/07/i...
Chinanu, a Black man, in a red polo in his bedroom, holding a print copy of the Daily Free Press. The paper has headlines at the top, a large spread of a staircase & the investigation in the center, & two other stories at the bottom.
February 9, 2025 at 8:10 AM