Community journalist

Stephanie Casanova

Hello! My name is Stephanie Casanova and I’m a writer and bilingual community journalist doing freelance reporting. I was most recently Signal Cleveland's inaugural criminal justice and community safety reporter where I wrote about the criminal legal system, explaining the complexities and shedding light on injustices and inequities in the system. Through my writing, I have centered the experiences of justice-involved individuals, both victims and people who go through the criminal legal system and their loved ones. I also highlighted ways in which Cleveland residents are working on the ground to reduce crime to make their communities safer.Prior to reporting in Cleveland, I covered breaking news, criminal justice and general assignment stories for the Chicago Tribune.Over the course of my journalism career I’ve also covered county government and an Army base among other beats in the Midwest and in Arizona. I have also reported and written in Spanish, reaching communities often overlooked in the news.I am passionate about narrative, in-depth storytelling that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of the communities I cover. I am also committed to holding those in power accountable and producing news that directly answers community questions and empowers them to be more civically engaged.