June 21 – The New Mexican will expand its coverage of child welfare and juvenile justice in New Mexico and the state’s Department of Children, Youth and Families with help from a national nonprofit journalism organization.
Esteban Candelaria, a member of the Report for America corps, will take on a new reporting role at the newspaper on Monday.
“I am thrilled to be on board with The Santa Fe New Mexican and Report for America,” Candelaria said in an email. “I was born and raised here in New Mexico and have spent the past two years telling the stories of my community. I’m looking forward to doing that here, and especially to covering such an important beat.”
Candelaria, a native of Albuquerque with family in northern New Mexico, previously covered education for the Albuquerque Journal.
In that job, he wrote everything from “accountability stories about the state education department’s student services to stories about the proliferation of guns in Albuquerque schools,” according to Report for America.
Previously, he covered courts and criminal law at the Colorado Springs Gazette.
“Child welfare is a major issue in this state and we are excited to partner with Report for America to give readers a better sense of the challenges and possible solutions,” said new Mexico editor Phill Casaus. “The added bonus is Esteban’s acumen and background. As a native New Mexican, he will hit the ground running and be a wonderful addition to our news story.”
Report for America, a national service program that helps place reporters in mostly small, local newsrooms across the country, will pay a portion of Candelaria’s salary for the first three years. The rest is paid for by The New Mexican, partly through community donations. Report for America’s goal is to create permanent positions for corps reporters in their newsrooms.
“New Mexico’s children face enormous challenges, but the government agency charged with ensuring their well-being is beset by chronic failure,” Report for America said, adding that Candelaria will direct the Department of Children, Youth and Families “but will also explain why New Mexico cannot solve the problems facing its youngest citizens.”
Learn more about Report for America at reportforamerica.org.
