Whitney Bryen (She/her)

This is tough industry and I enjoy providing a soft spot for young reporters who can benefit from a little encouragement and friendly feedback. I've recently become a mentor for Report for America and the Carter Center's Mental Health Collaboration. As a Report for America beat trainer, I offer tips and one-on-one help to reporters with an accountability focus. I talk to them about what that means, how to incorporate it into their stories whether they're quick turns or months-long investigations, and how this approach can be most effective when reporting with impact in mind. Accountability reporting is a passion of mine, especially as a mentor. This is something I struggled to grasp when I transitioned from local daily reporting to investigative work. Thank goodness for my former colleague who mentored me through that. Now, I hope to give back in a similar way. The Carter Center program is new but I am available to answer questions from reporters across the country who are reporting stories related to mental health. I also mentor students who have reached out for assignments and some of my former colleagues who occasionally seek advice or guidance on various topics.