News Summary
Jena Brooker, a BridgeDetroit reporter, has been named one of five partners in ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network. This fellowship allows her to focus on in-depth investigative pieces regarding the impact of heavy industry on Detroit neighborhoods, collaborating with BridgeDetroit and BridgeMichigan to enhance local journalism and address environmental challenges in the city.
Detroit – BridgeDetroit reporter Jena Brooker has been selected as one of five new partners in the national Local Reporting Network for ProPublica, a notable nonprofit newsroom recognized for its significant investigative journalism efforts. This opportunity allows Brooker to leave her day-to-day reporting duties to concentrate on a full-time investigative project that explores the effects of heavy industry on Detroit neighborhoods.
Throughout her fellowship, Brooker is expected to produce multiple investigative and enterprise pieces over the course of the year. The aim of these articles is to shed light on local issues that may have broader national implications. Her enthusiasm for the project underscores her commitment to addressing environmental challenges faced by the residents of Detroit.
The support for Brooker’s fellowship project will involve collaboration with both the BridgeDetroit newsroom and BridgeMichigan, which focuses on statewide environmental issues. This partnership promises to enhance the depth and reach of her reporting, driving critical conversations around the environmental landscape in Detroit.
Brooker joined BridgeDetroit in 2022 and has since made a significant impact through her award-winning environmental reporting. She has consistently focused on how development patterns within the city have resulted in community displacement and ecological damage. Her diligence in this area has earned her the Public Service Award from the Michigan Press Association for two consecutive years.
Among her notable works is a detailed examination of the damaging effects attributed to dollar stores in Detroit, which garnered enough attention to prompt a proposed ordinance aimed at restricting future stores and requiring existing ones to offer fresh produce. Additionally, she collaborated with another environmental reporting organization to address the community impact of harmful wildfire smoke, which resulted in improved alert systems for residents.
Brooker has previously produced an award-winning weekly newsletter, JB’s Bites, which connected tens of thousands of Detroit residents with vital information on the intersections of food and the environment. However, this newsletter will be placed on hiatus during her fellowship period as she dedicates her efforts to more extensive investigative work.
Her accolades continue with a Michigan Emmy nomination for her reporting on hidden “ghost” streams that contribute to urban flooding. In 2023, she was distinguished as the Young Journalist of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter, an award recognizing her exceptional contributions to the field of journalism.
BridgeDetroit’s Executive Director highlighted Brooker’s achievement as a reflection of the quality journalism the organization upholds and its commitment to effectively serving the residents of Detroit. The Local Reporting Network for ProPublica is a critical initiative aimed at enhancing local journalism across the nation, with a goal of partnering with one newsroom from each state by 2029.
The four other newsrooms selected for this initiative will also begin their investigative projects on July 1, marking the start of a new wave of reporting that aspires to elevate local issues to the national stage. The selection of Brooker and her peers emphasizes the ongoing need for detailed, independent reporting on local environments and communities struggling with heavy industrial impacts.
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Additional Resources
- BridgeDetroit: Jena Brooker Chosen for ProPublica Local Reporting Network
- Free Press: Free Press Awards from Society of Professional Journalists
- ClickOnDetroit: Federal Report Warns of Environmental Risks
- MLive: MLive Nabs 37 Awards in SPJ Excellence in Journalism Contest
- The Hill: Detroit Reporting Some of Worst Air Quality in USA
- Wikipedia: Environmental Issues in Michigan
- Google Search: Local Journalism
- Google Scholar: Environmental Reporting
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Journalism
- Google News: Detroit Environment
Author: STAFF HERE DETROITMI WRITER
DETROIT STAFF WRITER The DETROIT STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDetroitMI.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Detroit, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Movement Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Grand Prix, and America's Thanksgiving Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Detroit Regional Chamber and Focus HOPE, plus leading businesses in automotive and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Henry Ford Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
