My name is Steven Rich and I’m a journalist. I like to build things. Be it a well-crafted story, a web application for a news site or an intricate database; I can’t get enough.

Beside being a journalist, I am a musician, nerd, introvert, Hokie and (Mizzou) Tiger.

I like to think of myself as a throwback to the days of old-school journalism but with a modern twist. I do hard-hitting investigative journalism and I am not afraid to ask the tough questions. I also incorporate new technologies into my work.

Along with writing, I find particular interest in news applications and data visualization, something I plan to incorporate in my journalism moving forward. If you’re a little lost as to what I do, follow my blog and find out. I will update regularly and have guest blogs from friends in the field who are living the dream.

Stomping Grounds: 

Current

University of Missouri – Currently a graduate student entering my second year, my studies have focused on investigative and data journalism. My unique program has required me to learn with independent studies, including one where I will create and run a News Applications Desk at the Columbia Missourian.

DocumentCloud – In order to fund my education, I work as a graduate assistant working under the guidance of Ted Han. I work on all aspects of the site, from fixing issues to creating new features to working on the front-end design.

USA Today – As an intern, I work for Tony Debarros on the database team during the summer of 2012. I compile never-before-seen databases and analyze the data for use in stories. I also run web scrapers to get information that isn’t super accessible.

Columbia Missourian – I started as a reporter in August 2011 on the public life beat. As of August 2012, I will be the News Applications Editor, working to preach data to the masses of reporters working for the newspaper.

Former: (Will be updated very soon)

Virginia Tech - Graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, with minors in Creative Writing and Popular Culture. Worked at InnovationSpace for three and a half years, finishing my tenure as Senior Lab Assistant. Participated in Marching Virginians for four years and served three years as leadership, including two as Executive Officer. I still have strong ties to the organization as a member of the Marching Virginian Alumni Association Executive Board.

New York Times - I did research for a reporter in the Washington Bureau. Due to a confidentiality agreement, I cannot divulge what I worked on, but I learned a ton in the process.

Investigative Reporters and Editors - Volunteered in the data library for the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting as a data analyst. I’ve worked a couple conferences for IRE, including the 2012 NICAR Conference in St. Louis and the 2012 IRE Conference in Boston. I am technically still under the umbrella of IRE while working for DocumentCloud.

Roanoke Times - Interned in the New River Valley Bureau during my last semester in Blacksburg.
SciXchange - I worked for a year as a Graduate Assistant teaching undergraduate science students at the University of Missouri how to communicate the work in their labs to the general public.