BridgeDetroit reporter Jena Brooker has been selected as one of five new partners in the national Local Reporting Network for ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that has done groundbreaking, award-winning work with local journalists.
As part of this fellowship, Brooker will step away from her day-to-day reporting duties to work full-time on an in-depth investigative project focused on heavy industry in Detroit neighborhoods. Brooker will produce multiple investigative and enterprise pieces throughout the year that highlight local issues in a way that can have a national impact.
“I’m incredibly excited to work with the team at ProPublica and take a deeper look at topics I’ve covered for years but haven’t had the chance to fully do justice to,” Brooker said. “I’m grateful for the chance to grow as a reporter — and to make a real impact on the environmental issues facing Detroiters right on their doorsteps.”
The project will leverage the resources of the BridgeDetroit newsroom, as well as that of BridgeMichigan, which covers environmental issues statewide. It is a chance for Brooker to build on the award-winning environmental coverage she has been doing since she joined BridgeDetroit in 2022.
She has also reported extensively on how Detroit’s development patterns have fueled displacement and environmental harm, earning her the distinguished Public Service Award by the Michigan Press Association two years in a row.
Her reporting brought citywide attention to the deleterious effects of dollar stores in Detroit, leading to a proposed ordinance limiting future stores and requiring existing stores to offer fresh produce. Her collaborative coverage with Planet Detroit prompted faster alerts about harmful wildfire smoke.
For several years, Jena produced an award-winning weekly newsletter, JB’s Bites, which connected tens of thousands of Detroiters to vital information and uplifted solutions at the intersection of food and environment. The newsletter will go on hiatus during the fellowship.
She is a Michigan Emmy nominee for reporting on hidden ‘ghost’ streams that contribute to urban flooding, and in 2023, she was named Young Journalist of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter.
“We’re incredibly proud of Jena and excited for the work that lies ahead,” Executive Director Laurén Abdel-Razzaq said. “This opportunity not only elevates BridgeDetroit’s journalism on a national stage, but it also reflects our deep commitment to reporting that serves Detroiters with integrity and impact.”
Four other newsrooms were named to the program. It’s the third group selected as part of the organization’s 50 State Initiative, a commitment to partnering with one newsroom from each state by 2029.
Also chosen were Ren Larson with The Assembly, Christopher Osher of The Denver Gazette, Chris Bowling of the Flatwater Free Press and Nick Bowlin with The Frontier. This group will begin their investigative projects on July 1.