Lois Beckett has been a reporter for ProPublica since 2011. She covers the intersection of data, technology and politics, with a current focus on gun violence and gun policy. Her Essence Magazine story on PTSD caused by gun violence, âBlack Americaâs Invisible Crisis,â won a 2015 Deadline Award for public service and a NABJ Salute to Excellence Award in investigative journalism. Previously, she covered the ways politicians use data to target votersâlooking at online ad targeting and the data broker industry. She is a frequent guest on nationally syndicated TV and radio programs, including CNN Newsroom, NPRâs On Point, KQEDâs Forum and WAMUâs Kojo Nnamdi Show, and also speaks about her reporting at conferences, most recently at the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg. With Olga Pierce and Jeff Larson, she won the 2011 Livingston Award for National Reporting, which honors outstanding achievement by journalists under the age of 35. She was also a finalist for a 2012 Livingston Award. Before joining ProPublica, she covered innovation in the news industry for the SF Weekly and the Nieman Journalism Lab.
Lois Beckett
Now, You Can't Ban Guns at the Public Pool
In a decades-long campaign to deny cities the power to regulate guns, even the smallest local rules are now coming under attack.
Kansas Gov. Insists it’s OK to Ignore Federal Gun Laws
Gov. Brownback tells Attorney General Holder to respect the “sovereign will” of Kansas, which passed a law that makes enforcing federal gun laws a crime. Gov. Brownback tells Attorney General Holder to respect the “sovereign will” of Kansas, which passed a law that makes enforcing federal gun laws a crime.
Nullification: How States Are Making It a Felony to Enforce Federal Gun Laws
The NRA has remained quiet while legislation to nullify federal gun laws has been introduced in dozens of states.
Senator Pushes for Investigation of ‘False Statements’ by Dark Money Groups
If the IRS is not well-suited to investigate these “plain vanilla criminal cases,” the U.S. Department of Justice should, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said.
Voter Information Wars: Will the GOP Team Up With Wal-Mart’s Data Specialist?
The 2012 Obama campaign set the bar for the use of voter data. The Republicans aren't interested in being beaten again.
America’s Most Outrageous Teacher Cheating Scandals
Many states still fail to follow up on evidence of teacher cheating. Here’s our rundown of the long history of such cheating.
Five Ways Courts Say Texas Discriminated Against Black and Latino Voters
Separate federal panels struck down two Texas voting provisions. We look at examples of discrimination they found.
Democrats: We Won’t Sell Voter Data for Commercial Use
The leader of a Democratic data-selling group says that Democrats really never intended to sell the party’s deep collection of voter information to for-profit companies.
Will Democrats Sell Your Political Opinions to Credit Card Companies?
State Democratic parties formed a cooperative to sell their voter data. Now they’re looking for commercial customers.
Four Graphs That Show How Democrats Predict Your Political Beliefs
Little pieces of data about individual voters add up to a powerful big picture for state Democratic parties
In Minnesota, Democratic Grandmas Gather Data About Their Neighbors
From the campaign sign on your lawn to what you write in a letter to the editor, your political opinions are being recorded in party databases — and then shared in ways you might not expect.
Everything We Know (So Far) About Obama’s Big Data Tactics
A new look at what the Obama campaign did with its much-heralded data operation.
Yes, Companies Are Harvesting – and Selling – Your Facebook Profile
Personal details from your Internet profile—from your professional history to how many friends you have—are being collected, analyzed, and sold.
Obama's Microtargeting 'Nuclear Codes'
Some key findings on campaign targeting from Time Magazine's interviews with Obama advisers.
Why It May Be Illegal to Instagram Your Ballot
In most states, you’re not allowed to show other people your marked ballot.
How Companies Have Assembled Political Profiles for Millions of Internet Users
Political targeting companies are pushing the boundaries of what it means to be "anonymous" on the web.
Pandora Asks Listeners to Share Their Emails With Romney
The request comes via a campaign ad on the popular music site.
Is Your Neighbor a Democrat? Obama Has an App for That
A new mobile app puts public information about voters at your fingertips.
Dark Money Political Groups Target Voters Based on Their Internet Habits
Dark money groups are using sophisticated online targeting tactics. Voters may never know they’re being targeted.
