About

Experienced. Award-winning. Journalist.

My work primarily has focused on using pubic data to expose injustice, malfeasance and corruption — and hold those responsible accountable.

Those stories include exposing how rogue prosecutors in the Caddo District Attorney’s office formed a “Zombie Squad” and, among other questionable activities, falsified documents to illegally acquire surplus federal weapons.

I’ve also reported and written awarding-winning data stories on racial profiling, campaign finance, police brutality and ethics violations by public officials. Over my career, I’ve focused on reporting about systemic racism in our criminal justice system, including the death penalty.

“There is nothing better for me as a journalist than to see public records, data and news tips appear in my inbox.”

Those stories have not only exposed wrongdoing, injustice and corruption but also have resulted in substantive reform. For example, two of the Caddo assistant attorneys in the federal weapons story were fired.

While investigative reporting has been satisfying, I find some of the greatest rewards have come in my role as an editor — coaching and mentoring reporters working on investigative projects, such as an expose into sex trafficking in Louisiana and a critical look into lapses in the criminal investigation into the death of a young woman in Yakima, Washington.

Recently, my career transitioned. After several years leading newsrooms in Louisiana, Washington state and Oregon, I am now based in Seattle and have resumed my focus on investigative reporting and editing.

It’s good to be back.

Skills

  • Data acquisition/analysis
  • Research, reporting and writing
  • Reporting and writing coach/mentor
  • Editing/copy editing/headline writing
  • Content development, strategy and distribution
  • Social media strategy

Experience

Executive Editor, The Register Guard (Eugene, Oregon)
(July 2018 – May 2020)

Managing Editor, The Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Washington)
(May 2016 – July 2018)

Executive Editor, The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana)
(November 2014 – April 2016)

Let’s get in touch

I’d love to hear your story ideas, news tips or comments at alisonbath@gmail.com. I’m also available to collaborate on investigations and stories or speak about investigative reporting, ethics and other journalism topics to groups or classes. And, of course, I’m available for freelance assignments.