Stories on The Razorback Reporter are produced by students at the UA School of Journalism and Strategic Media.
The 2020 Reporting Cohort
Focused on telling stories about the unhoused population of Fayetteville.
Reporter: Katy Seiter
Katy Seiter is an undergraduate student in the advertising and public relations sequence of journalism. She has served as a Marketing & Development intern with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for two semesters. While reporting on homelessness, she’s enjoyed becoming more involved with her community and more understanding of homelessness across the state.
Reporter: Whitney King
Whitney King is a graduate student that focuses her reporting on homeless felons. She has worked with a local homeless center and spent her time advocating for the organization and the people who utilize it. Currenly, she is working with graduates and undergraduates all over the United States to document stories on homeless individuals. After graduation, she hopes to work in documentary filmmaking.
Reporter: Michael Adkison
Michael Adkison is a University of Arkansas Senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism. He has reported and produced for UATV, a student-run news broadcast at the U of A. He also writes for Walton Insights, a business blog hosted by the Walton College of Business. He will continue studying for a Master’s degree in journalism in Fall 2020. Michael has reported for the Razorback Reporter on local homeless census counts and the homeless population within a local county jail, analyzing discrepancies between the homeless demographics and the greater Northwest Arkansas population.
Email: maadkiso@uark.edu
Phone: (214) 907-3730
Reporter: Matthew Moore
Matthew Moore is a graduate student studying journalism at the University of Arkansas. Moore is a podcast producer, using audio to tell stories about veteran homelessness in Northwest Arkansas. For more podcasts and work, see his portfolio.
Reporter: Abbi Ross
Abbi Ross is a junior studying journalism with a news and editorial
concentration. Ross is currently a senior staff reporter for the
Arkansas Traveler and will serve as editor in chief for the 2020-2021
school year. She has covered homelessness since joining the Traveler in
the spring of 2019 and building relationships within that community has
helped open her eyes as a reporter and develop a love for more
investigative journalism.
She can be found on twitter at @AbbiRoss10
Reporter: Brooke Tomlin
Brooke Tomlin is a senior journalism major with a concentration in advertising and public relations from the University of Arkansas. Her past experience includes being the editor for her high school yearbook staff, assisting a North Dallas Real Estate team as a summer intern, and working as a resident’s assistant in Reid Hall for two years. Brooke enjoys reporting on homelessness in Northwest Arkansas because it has opened her eyes to see her community’s needs and given her an avenue to respond.
Reporter: Mary-Morgan Ellis
Mary-Morgan Ellis is a graduate student studying journalism at the University of Arkansas. Ellis received her undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism with a minor in history. Her reports cover homeless women and how shelters are operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Giving a voice to niche groups within the homeless community serves as an inspiration to her reporting.
Reporter: Elias Weiss
Elias Weiss writes about transgender homeless youth in Northwest Arkansas. He first started reporting on LGBTQ+ homelessness two years ago, publishing his coverage in The Arkansas Traveler in October 2018. Elias worked as a lifestyles reporter for The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette before studying journalism further at Linnaeus University in Sweden in 2019. He has since served as the opinion editor for the Traveler and reported Razorback sports for the Gazette. His reporting of LGBTQ+ homelessness has changed his worldview and made him understand how many people in his community struggle silently around him.d in Northwest Arkansas.
Reporter: Elena Ramirez
Elena Ramirez is involved with the local podcast, District 3 Podcast, where she oversees the social media platform and interviews local guest. She is currently working with a team of undergraduates on the Razorback Reporter where she is writing about immigrant students at her university.
2019 BEATS & REPORTERS
DACA
Reporter: Elena Ramirez
ABOUT
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) affects the lives of thousands of Arkansans. In recent years, the UofA staff has been vocal and supportive about DACA recipients. Elena Ramirez reports about resources, the Latino community and the lives affected.
FULBRIGHT COLLEGE
Reporter: Mary Fracchia
ABOUT
As the largest college on campus, Fulbright graduates represent our future artists, musicians and defenders of truth. Mary felt inclined to showcase the talents of these students and faculty, and the impact they are making on our campus and in the community.
STUDENT HEALTH & THE UREC
Reporter: Mary Hennigan
ABOUT
Taking care of your body is something you are entirely in control of, so why not start now? As someone who takes health and fitness seriously in her personal life, Mary thinks college health issues are important for all students to know. Between daily exercise, tracking food intake and sleeping habits, starting healthful habits young can change the rest of your life. University Recreation is the first step for students to lead a healthful lifestyle.
FOOD INSECURITY
Reporter: Sophie Neubaum
ABOUT
Arkansas is ranked third in the nation for overall food insecurity, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Students at the UofA are also affected by food insecurity — 46 percent of graduate students and 38 percent of undergraduate students are food insecure, according to the Full Circle Food Pantry. Sophia Neubaum is following what is being done to help assist those suffering from food insecurity in Northwest Arkansas.
POLICE & FIRE
Reporter: Parker Tillson
ABOUT
Crime is everywhere and can happen at any time. This beat seeks to inform UA students, staff and the surrounding community about crime and campus safety around Fayetteville. Stay safe and educated by tuning in for weekly stories.
ENVIRONMENT
Reporter: Abby Zimmardi
ABOUT
The environment is ever-changing and in today’s social climate is becoming an increasingly relevant topic. From fires in the Amazon to local composting initiatives, the Razorback Reporter will work to cover these stories and inform readers. This is an important topic because the environment impacts everyone and everyone should be concerned about it.
HOMELESSNESS
Reporter: Abbi Ross
ABOUT
Homelessness is a problem that affects people from all walks of life. From University of Arkansas students to veterans standing on Martin Luther King Boulevard, homelessness is an issue that many encounter daily. The Razorback Reporter is working to inform readers about the issues that the homeless in Fayetteville face and about the organizations that work to support them.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Reporter: Kate Duby
ABOUT
On a college campus with more than 27,500 students, representation matters. Through her news coverage on the diversity and inclusion beat, Kate Duby will dig deeper than demographic statistics and magnify the scope of the issues minority groups face on campus and in Northwest Arkansas.
COLLEGE OF EDU
& HEALTH
Reporter: Kirsten Baird
ABOUT
Education and health profession fields are an under-acknowledged backbone of society. There has been a steady decline in the quality of education within the nation over the last several years. The stories published on the College of Education and Health Professions beat will delve into topics regarding enrollment in the college, changes within the college, and education policy and statistics.
CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION
Reporter: Coleman Bonner
ABOUT
As our campus is constantly improving and expanding, students are often being displaced or having to account for the many construction projects that pop up around campus. This beat will keep UofA community members up to date with the many projects happening around campus.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Reporter: Hanna Ellington
ABOUT
Technology is a rapidly changing topic; therefore, it’s confusing. The 21st century is altering the state of technology as we know it, and Hanna Ellington is working to assist in understanding those changes on the U of A campus and beyond.