CAREER

Independent journalist, 2012 to present. I have covered:

  • criminal justice, politics, culture and breaking news for The New York Times

  • domestic abuse, mental health and gender for Good Housekeeping

  • immigration, human rights and forced migration for The Des Moines Register

  • health and social science for Medium’s Elemental

  • gender-based inequality and autism education for Drake University

  • physical and emotional health for Diabetic Living

  • philanthropy, medicine, health and finance for Dartmouth University

  • medical research and upstart financing for Silicon Valley Bank

  • racial justice and sustainable living for The Property Brothers’ Reveal

  • ocean health and environmental activism for State Farm’s Good Neighbor

  • climate change and soil health for Better Homes & Gardens

Stringer, The New York Times, 2014 to present: Covering breaking news as well as politics, culture, health and human rights.

Pandemic staff, The New York Times, 2020-2021: Collected data for pandemic coverage and reported extensively on the devastating spead of COVID-19 in prisons, jails and immigration detention centers, contributing to the overall coverage awarded the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service.

Senior editor, Meredith Corporation, 2004-2012: Managed custom publications covering family relationships, health, fitness, finances and home ownership.

Also:
Copy editor, Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publications

Reporter, The Pella Chronicle and The Record-Herald and Indianola Tribune

RECOMMENDATIONS

“Ann writes with a poignancy and power that few writers master. Her depth of understanding of subjects is unmatched. She understands the ancient art of storytelling and employs it in modern day with modern tools.”

—Mike Mitchell, Social Media Strategist, The Stelter Company

“Ann is an ultra-creative editor and wordsmith.  I have worked with her in countless brainstorming situations, where she is clearly a visionary.”

—Lisa Holderness Brown, editorial manager and former editor, Ladies’ Home Journal

“Ann is a passionate explorer and a masterful storyteller.  I had the privilege of working with her on several feature articles for Blue magazine, to which she brought her curiosity, her dogged pursuit of the story, and her engaging narrative style. The end result was always a unique experience accessible to our diverse readership.

“The process along the way—the research, the communication, the flexibility and agility, the professionalism, the collaboration, the accountability—was always a partnership valued by this grateful editor.

“I sometimes fear good journalism is dying. Then Ann reminds me it’s not.”

—Beth Wilson, editor, Drake University’s Blue magazine

EDUCATION

M.A., summa cum laude, Drake University: Journalism & Mass Communication
B.A., magna cum laude, Central College: Mass Communication & English

SEMINARS

Society of Professional Journalists
Environmental reporting

The Poynter Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida
Educational inequality in America

Drake University, Des Moines
Web writing and video reporting

The Power of Narrative conference, Boston University
Reporting trends in covering race, gender and justice

Iowa Writers’ Workshop Summer Writing Festival, University of Iowa
Biography and literary writing

The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, University of North Texas
Reporting trends in covering race, gender, justice and the environment

The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis
Longform narrative nonfiction

INTERESTS

Surfing & paddling
Hip-hop dance
Weightlifting
Swimming