Illustration at NPR

When I began working on the science desk at NPR in 2015, illustration was a relatively new visual medium for the newsroom. Together with my colleague LA Johnson, we set out to build a larger community of diverse artists to conceptualize NPR’s reporting. We started a Tumblr account called NPR Illustration to tap into the network of freelancers creating content on that platform.

We attended ICON conferences and met artists who were increasingly doing comics journalism. We brought on NPR’s first illustration interns. And over time, along with other visual editors at NPR, we built connections with freelancers who bring fresh perspectives and a new medium to NPR’s reporting.