The Statesman receives a scholarship for investigative reporting

Idaho State has been selected to receive the scholarship investigative reporting support about Idaho’s education system.

The Statesman was one of five news outlets that joined the ProPublica Local Reporting Network starting in November. Becca Savransky, the Statesman’s education reporter and Report for America staff member, will spend the next year on a project investigating Idaho school funding.

ProPublica is a New York-based nonprofit investigative news agency. The Local Reporting Network Fellowship funds a reporter’s salary for a year, as well as editorial and research assistance, to promote responsible journalism at local newspapers across the US. Launch of LRN in January 2018stories have received national recognition as a result of the program – including Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2020.

Savransky’s broadcast last year about the struggle of families to secure school services for children with dyslexia was cited by lawmakers and education officials. Months after the story was published, lawmakers passed legislation requiring dyslexia screening and resources.

Before joining The Statesman, Savransky worked at Seattle PI, where she covered the COVID-19 pandemic, homelessness and housing, and The Hill in Washington, D.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in journalism and political science.

This story was originally published October 20, 2022, at 8:00 a.m.