Thank you for visitng my online journlaism portfolio. Below you will find a sampling of my work. If you want to see additional examples, or just nerd out about audience development and the future of local news, please email me at jcrooney2@gmail.com.

The Keene sentinel

For a fragile child care system, shared services and legislative activism show potential

This story is the final installment of The Sentinel’s Pandemic Parenting series, which focused on solutions to longstanding and pandemic-induced child care access and affordability gaps. The seven-part series, which also included parent resource guide and three virtual community listening sessions, won a Publick Occurrences Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association, recognizing “the very best work that New England newspapers produce each year.” To read the entire series, which was funded by a competitive grant from the Solutions Journalism Network, click here.

From Jaffrey, Putnam chronicles America’s decline, offers hope for better future

As a political science major, I have studied and long admired Robert Putnam’s work. So, when I discovered that he lived within The Keene Sentinel’s coverage area, I just had to interview him for our weekly local profile.

Keene State students, faculty face aftermath of latest cuts

As a beat reporter, I consistently broke vital education news, like in the spring of 2021, when Keene State College announced a new round of faculty buyouts as part of a multiyear effort to adjust to a smaller student body and eliminate a budget gap that grew to $14 million that year as enrollment declined further due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a local journalist, I also see stories like this, following up on breaking news to capture the human impact, as even more valuable.

Harrisville voters reject Silver Lake parking plan, delay decision on appointed fire chief

Local government is the heartbeat of democracy. My time in New Hampshire has taught me our American democracy might be a bit healthier than national headlines suggest. Nowhere is this more clear than at annual town and school district meetings in the Granite State, where voters debate budgets and town policies and don’t leave until all their business is done. (For another marathon meeting story, click here.)

Impact Report and other stories

While reporting for The Keene Sentinel, particularly at community events, people would notice my notebook, camera and recorder, and approach me to ask, “How’s The Sentinel doing?” This happened to me often enough that I felt the newspaper should produce an annual report to update our neighbors on our operations, and share why we remain an invaluable part of the Monadnock Region in southwestern New Hampshire. I pitched the idea to The Sentinel’s senior leadership team, and with their approval coordinated a cross-departmental team to produce the 2022 Community Impact Report. You can view the full document below.

For my complete portfolio at The Sentinel, click here.

The Daily Record

Orrville teen shares message of hope after sexual assault

Trust is essential in journalism. This story would not have happened without Morganne and her family giving me their trust, which I worked hard to earn. Years after this story, I remain in awe of this young woman and her courage, grace and desire to turn her horrific experience into a sincere offer to help others.

Wayne County authorities investigating house explosion as hate crime

I spent much of my time at the Daily Record in Wooster, Ohio honing my breaking news skills. In this story, as with all my breaking coverage, I worked hard to get the news online as quickly as possible, and update throughout the day with details and interviews to tell the full story.

For another example of breaking news from the Daily Record, click here for a story I reported from the scene, and worked on in collaboration with a colleague working the phones in the newsroom.

Jury’s still out: Administration disputes portrait of wpd disfunction painted at trial

The Daily Record, during my time there, had a highly collaborative newsroom. I learned more from my veteran colleagues than I did in all my college journalism classes combined. This story is the result of my partnership with a well sourced and exceptionally thorough reporter named Tami Mosser, who helped me dig into the consequences of a criminal trial I covered gavel-to-gavel involving a Wooster police officer who claimed department administration framed him for the charges of which he was aquitted.

College interships

Website updates have made links from my journalism internships (2014-2016) difficult to come by. So, see the PDFs below for some of my favorite stories from the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Concord Monitor and Tampa Bay Times.