Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) – The Pioneer of Data-Driven Investigative Reporting
Every investigative reporter everywhere should probably have a shrine to Ida B. Wells next to their desks to thank her for her contributions to their profession.
Hello true crime pods, where are you?
Born into slavery, she came of age during Reconstruction and by age 27 was the editor and co-owner of an African-American newspaper in Memphis called, Freedom of Speech and the Headlight.
She was a crusader for justice and become known for her investigative reporting on the terror tactics, like lynching, used to harass, suppress, and intimidate Black people. Her research was backed by statistics, data, interviews, and first-hand reports of the violence, effectively challenging the myth that lynchings were the result of serious crimes committed by lynching victims.
Her data-driven reporting pioneered investigative reporting across the country and showed that white Southerners often used terror tactics to suppress Black enterprise and regain social and economic dominance.