Rob Reid
local reporter, data journalist, community historian
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investigations and data journalism
911 Call-Takers Are Demoralized, Overwhelmed and Dealing With Their Own Mental Health Woes (MindSite News, Concord Monitor, The Current)
This investigation, exploring an upstream link in cities' responses to mental health calls, was developed in partnership with Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism and published at three outlets.
Fines Don't Shovel Sidewalks, But Chicago Levies Them Anyway (South Side Weekly)
This second piece about Chicago's snow clearance reveals Chicago's patchwork approach to fining property owners, which varies wildly between wards.
Sidewalk-Plowing Pilot Planned for Next Winter (South Side Weekly)
This article about Chicago's proposed sidewalk plowing pilot includes analysis of city data showing that complaints about unshoveled sidewalks are highest on the North Side, but fines are disproportionately levied on South Siders.
"No one bikes in Chicago during the winter!” Part Three: Nice turnout for Divvy, every day (Streetsblog Chicago)
This story includes analysis of Divvy bikeshare and NCEI weather data, demonstrating that some Chicago bikers persist through the coldest and snowiest days in January.
Who's Still Riding the CTA?
Analysis of changes in train ridership patterns between 2019 and 2022, including an interactive Chicago community map.
map-based scrollytelling
The Far Southeast Side's Disconnected Network of Public Parks
Map-based scrollytelling story showing the geography of bike transit challenges in Southeast Chicago. This map was included in How can we better link the Far Southeast Side's disconnected network of public parks? (Streetsblog).
community stories
Garfield Park's community gardeners turn vacant lots into Edens (Austin Weekly)
This reporting demonstrates how a few urban gardeners training others has helped bring fresh produce to a food desert.
From Survival to Solidarity: People Helping People in Humboldt Park
A local bilingual mutual aid group provides support to those who need it.
A Community Anchor in a Story Sea?
A video documentary of the city's failure to protect a landmarked classic bank building from flooding, pillaging, and its second life as a local urban spelunking mecca.
Images of America: Avondale and Chicago's Polish Village
Picture-based history of a neighborhood in Chicago.