Amelia
Benavides-Colón
Journalist
Detroit, Michigan
Background
Detroit Documenters
2021 - Present
Live social media coverage, note-taking
City Bureau’s Documenters Network expands across nine states, training and paying community members to attend public meetings and publish the results. Documenters directly partners with local media agencies to ensure proper coverage and oversight of otherwise under-reported bodies.
My work focuses on live coverage, providing a detailed and easy-to-follow play-by-play of meetings ranging from the Board of Police to the Board of Water Commissioners.
Freelance Work
Eater Detroit
August 2023
Wayne State University Campus Food Guide
In this project, I compiled a list of the 13 best places for students to wine and dine around Wayne State’s campus.
After publication, I pitched the idea of reproducing the online guide into an upcoming The South End print edition. This was the first time Eater produced a print map and sparked conversations about expanding partnerships with other campus newspapers across the country.
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Freelance Work
Planet Detroit, Social Determinants of Health
In this three-part reporting project I interviewed Detroit residents who’s lives were turned around after receiving governmental assistance after the social aspects of their environment began to affect their health.
May-August 2023
LeadSafe Detroit helps protect kids from lead poisoning
Double-up Food Bucks helps Detroit senior access fresh food
Bridging neighborhoods helps Detroiters avoid impacts from noise, air pollution
Around 1,000 kids in the city are at risk of lead poisoning, mostly in part due to old housing stock filled with lead-based paint. Detroit’s LeadSafe program provides the repairs families need to stay safe.
For many seniors living on a limited income means having to decide between fresh produce and other necessities. Michigan’s Double-Up Food Bucks offers an up to $20 match on fresh food, ensuring a healthy lifestyle is affordable for everyone.
The expansion of local development exasperated already severe air and noise quality concerns in the Delray community. The city’s Bridging Neighborhoods program gives residents in high-risk areas a fully refurbished home in a neighborhood of their choice - a clean slate.
El Central
October 2023
In my first piece for community newspaper El Central, I started with a general story about the state legislature’s work to bring back driver’s licenses for immigrants.
In the end, I broke the news (for El Central) of an ICE data breach that affected more than 9,000 Detroit residents - and its upcoming relaunch, explaining how the program has been updated to ensure the mistake never happens again.
Freelance Work
Planet Detroit
November 2023
At its second-to-last City Council meeting of the year, one council member claimed to have a list of more than 300 Detroit residents living with toxic mold due to recurring floods.
Council is now investigating funding sources for a new program designated specifically at those who don’t qualify for a pre-existing program.
Crain’s Detroit Business
Business Reporting Intern
May 2022 - September 2022
All original photos
The Detroit News
Breaking News Intern
May 2021 - May 2022
Features Intern
September 2022 - December 2022
All original photos
The South End
A brief summary
Just three months later I was named News Editor, a position I held for one year before being promoted to Editor-in-Chief. One of my first actions as EIC was creating a weekly newsletter, which I produced and authored for more than 40 weeks. I also oversaw the production of three seasonal print editions, won awards from the College Media Association and gained more than 150% increase in website and social media traffic.
Contact me (:
@colonjournalism
I look forward to working with you!
Add me to your press list or reach out with opportunities:
ameliab.5475@gmail.com