Chase A. Bostian
Senior Journalist, Investigations
Denver, CO · (912) 555 0112 · name@example.com · linkedin.com/in/chaseabostian
Key Qualifications
EXPERIENCE
Fifteen years reporting, seven on an investigations team
INDUSTRIES
Metropolitan daily newspaper, statewide government coverage, criminal justice
SPECIALTIES
Public records requests, data analysis, document driven narrative, source development
SYSTEMS
WordPress, Chartbeat, Google Analytics, Microsoft Excel, DocumentCloud
CREDENTIALS
Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
EDUCATION
Master of Arts in journalism, University of Missouri
Results at a Glance
212
Public records requests
9,400
Use of force
24
Newsroom staff
38
Investigative stories
Executive Summary
Investigative journalist at a metropolitan daily, fifteen years in newsrooms and seven on the investigations team. Works long documents projects built on public records, sourced interviews and data he cleans himself. Three of his stories have changed state law or agency practice, and none has drawn a correction of substance.
Signature Achievements
- Published a five part series on jail medical care that led the legislature to require independent death reviews.
- Filed 212 public records requests in three years and won two denials on appeal without going to court.
- Built a database of 9,400 use of force reports that the newsroom still uses for daily stories.
- Broke the resignation of a county sheriff eleven days before any competitor had it, from two sourced interviews and a payroll record.
- Trained 24 newsroom staff on Freedom of Information Act requests and state open records practice.
- Carried 38 investigative stories over two years with no correction beyond a title reference.
Professional Experience
Senior Journalist, Investigations
Front Range Tribune, Denver, CO 2019 to present
Four person investigations team at a daily with a print and digital audience of 640,000 a week.
- Reports long form accountability projects on jails, policing and state contracting.
- Writes and tracks records requests to more than 50 agencies and manages the appeal calendar.
- Cleans and analyzes agency data sets, then documents the method for the published note.
- Works with editors, the data desk and counsel through prepublication review of every project.
- Mentors two reporters on document work and sourcing on their own beats.
Criminal Justice Reporter
Pikes Peak Register, Colorado Springs, CO 2014 to 2019
Solo beat covering courts, police and the county jail for a daily serving 480,000 residents.
- Filed four to six stories a week on courts, arrests and department policy.
- Covered three officer involved shootings from scene through grand jury decision.
- Produced a year long look at bail practice that ran across five Sunday editions.
General Assignment Reporter
San Luis Valley Courier, Alamosa, CO 2011 to 2014
Reporter at a weekly covering six rural counties with a two person news staff.
- Covered county commissions, school boards, water districts and agriculture.
- Shot photographs and video for every story and posted to the website.
Licensure and Certification
Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors
Member, National Association of Hispanic Journalists
Completed data journalism training, Investigative Reporters and Editors
Education
Master of Arts in journalism, University of Missouri, 2011
Bachelor of Arts in history, University of Colorado Boulder, 2009
Core Skills
Investigative reporting · Public records requests · Data analysis · Source development · Court and agency documents · Long form writing · Associated Press style · Prepublication review · Microsoft Excel · WordPress · Mentoring reporters