“A light shining into all dark places” — this is one way to describe the work of investigative journalism, and it’s familiar enough to feel like a cliché. But it’s also fitting for good reason.
In fact, the idea works so well that back in 1916 the architects of one newspaper building inscribed this phrase into the stone facade. They knew that passers-by would read it and know it as a foundational value.
There are many ways to shine the light, and at WPLN News, our most impactful journalism takes many forms. It can shed light on something commonly misunderstood, reveal new information, or connect the dots to help us think about the world in a different way. Our best reporting holds powerful institutions accountable and changes the conversation in Middle Tennessee.
While we’re not etching stories into stone in 2024, today we’re highlighting five reports that reflect WPLN’s highest ambitions.
Stacy Kranitz Special to ProPublica
A woman tells Judge Scarlett Ellis about her reasons for seeking a protection order during a domestic violence court case.
Extensive reporting has documented how Tennessee consistently has one of the highest rates of women killed by men, and often with guns. This investigation details the tools that authorities could be using to disarm abusers, and shows how Scott County stands apart for making changes to keep domestic violence cases from escalating. In the wake of this reporting, additional jurisdictions are examining their approaches.
Alexis Marshall WPLN News
Julia Garnett has spoken out against book bans in her school district. She tells WPLN News she formed a free speech club at her high school.
The political power struggle in Sumner County
This joint effort brings together reporting from our political and education beats to examine the influence of the ascendant Sumner County Constitutional Republicans. The group has changed the makeup of the local school board, altered how elections are conducted and led the charge to ban books from libraries.
- How a far-right political group rose to power in Sumner County — and what they’re pursuing in the next election
- Book ban advocates could soon take over Sumner County’s school board.
- Book bans are expanding from schools into public libraries in Sumner County.
- Sumner County Constitutional Republicans want to take over the school board. Some say they’re confusing voters.
George Walker IV AP Photo
Covenant School mother Mary Joyce, left, attends the Linking Arms for Change human chain to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting at the school.
This 4-part series in partnership with NPR’s Embedded examines what happens when one political party has near-complete control, and what that power means to those lawmakers, their constituents and our democracy.
WPLN senior reporter Meribah Knight follows three parents from the Covenant School — self-described conservatives who became known as the “Covenant moms” — as they learn to navigate Tennessee’s Republican-controlled state legislature.
Courtesy Tennessee Valley Authority
Since 2020, the Tennessee Valley Authority has planned nine methane gas projects.
Understanding the Tennessee Valley Authority
Covering energy policy is a marathon, not a sprint, and environment reporter Caroline Eggers provided authoritative-but-accessible explanatory coverage in 2024. The following trio of stories shines the light on how TVA leadership makes decisions that impact everyday Tennesseans:
- TVA is a monopoly. A board is supposed to curb that power. Is it?
- TVA executives made $90 million since 2020 while pushing fossil fuels. Your electricity bill paid them.
- TVA 2020 v. 2030: Why the nation’s largest public utility is not getting cleaner
Of note, the executive bonuses structure that was scrutinized in April underwent changes in September, as detailed here.
Andrea Morales ProPublica
Junior is an 11-year-old in Chattanooga who was arrested in the parking lot of a restaurant for allegedly making a threat of mass violence.
It’s relatively simple to report when a new law passes. It takes more time to follow up on how laws are actually being enforced. In this investigation in partnership with ProPublica, criminal justice reporter Paige Pfleger finds the difficulty that authorities face when children are accused of making threats of mass violence in schools. The penalty is now a felony but different mandates for school leaders and law enforcement can lead to different outcomes for children.
