El Paso Matters launched in February 2020, with aspirations of providing in-depth and investigative news for the El Paso-Juarez border region. We have had 1.5 employees since launching, though we are planning to expand soon.
El Paso Matters began publishing shortly before the first COVID-19 case was reported in our region. Our regular data reports have become must-reads for the community. Our data analysis spotted an emerging COVID-19 hot spot in a rural community that health authorities missed. As a result of our story, health officials rushed additional testing and services to the area. Data analysis and some old-fashioned shoe leather reporting identified a COVID-19 outbreak at a nursing home.
But our reporting has been more than about COVID-19. We told the story of how our local university shattered its relationship with a prominent alumnus by botching administration of a contract. And we created a unique way to celebrate local graduates whose school year began days after a white supremacist terror attack in El Paso and ended with a pandemic.
We have used online journalism to make a difference in our community. Thank you for considering us for this honor.
