Research Description

Jennifer LaFleur, a data journalist, editor and teacher, joined the school’s faculty in August 2023.

At Berkeley Journalism, LaFleur is charged with broadening and deepening training in data journalism, including helping students in every medium strengthen their stories by employing data analysis and deep data-driven research to their work. She teaches data journalism courses, works with the school’s Investigative Reporting Program and will play a leadership role in designing and launching a new fully online master’s degree in visual and data journalism.

LaFleur was formerly a senior editor at the Center for Public Integrity, an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization focused on investigating the root causes of inequality. She joined CPI from the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University, where she was data journalist in residence. At IRW, LaFleur helped launch The Accountability Project, a public data search tool with more than 1.8 billion government records.  LaFleur previously served as a senior editor for Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, where she managed an award-winning team of data journalists, investigative reporters and fellows.

LaFleur’s journalism career includes serving as the director of data journalism at ProPublica, an independent, nonprofit investigative newsroom, and similar roles at The Dallas Morning News and other newspapers. She is a former training director for Investigative Reporters & Editors, a nonprofit trade organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting, and previously served on IRE’s board of directors. She is a board member of the Fund for Investigative Journalism, an independent grant-making organization, and is a member of the advisory board for the National Center for Disability and Journalism, a nonprofit, educational organization that provides support and training to improve representation of disability in the media.