As the debate on reproductive rights swirled in 2023-24, and U.S. prison conditions continued to be criticized, The Marshall Project used newfound data and in-depth story-telling to illuminate these and other vital criminal justice issues. We examined the spate of prosecutions of pregnant women in Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma and South Carolina and published first-person accounts of the difficulty of being pregnant in prison. We brought our investigative work to new audiences, including incarcerated people, and announced the launch of The Marshall Project’s second local news operation in Jackson, MS.
Examples of our innovative user interface and innovation include our sweeping investigation in books banned behind bars. The project now includes a searchable database with lists from 19 states (and more coming), policy summaries from over 30 states, a policy analysis, a story based on a tip about the Ohio prison system’s confusing, contradictory book review process, and another, based on a survey, that interrogates how drug smuggling policies can turn into de facto book bans. We produced short, engaging videos for TikTok and Instagram. We also produced a reporting recipe through community listening so local journalists can report on the topic in their communities.
Our thoughtful use of deep accountability reporting and visual journalism is exemplified by “In Harm’s Way,” a comic book that tells the story of a largely unseen and incarcerated population facing the risks of climate change. Our adaptation of “The Mercy Workers” (and former ONA winner) into a stunning illustrated edition shows our commitment to creating work for people – including those behind bars – who have literacy challenges and prefer more visually engaging, accessible story forms, such as comics.
We also strengthened our commitment to engagement journalism. Over the past several years, The Marshall Project Cleveland has been answering residents’ questions about the Cuyahoga County court system and its leadership. Responding to these local needs, The Marshall Project created a comprehensive judge’s guide to fill this critical information gap. We have also created multiple flyers and explainers in both Cleveland andjud Jackson to better connect our work with local communities.
Our audience journalism has grown from strength to strength. For our Pultizer-prize nominated story on playing Dungeons and Dragons on death row we determined that that TikTok, Instagram and Reddit were the best platforms to target in this social campaign in order to reach both broad and niche audiences, such as D&D players, criminal justice-impacted people and others knowledgeable of the system as well as people who aren’t particularly familiar with the game or incarceration. The Audience team’s overall intent was to ensure people could experience the reporting within their platform of choice in storytelling methods they could understand, instead of solely social promotion that pushes people to The Marshall Project’s website.
Over the past year The Marshall Project has been awarded the National Magazine award for general excellence, the RFK award for ciminal justice, the Dart Award, multiple design awards, and a Pultizer prize nomination for feature writing.
