Stephen Engelberg

Editor-in-Chief

Photo of Stephen Engelberg

Stephen Engelberg was the founding managing editor of ProPublica from 2008–2012, and became editor-in-chief on January 1, 2013. He came to ProPublica from The Oregonian in Portland, where he had been a managing editor since 2002. Before joining The Oregonian, Mr. Engelberg worked for The New York Times for 18 years, including stints in Washington, D.C., and Warsaw, Poland, as well as in New York. He is a member of the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Mr. Engelberg’s work since 1996 has focused largely on the editing of investigative projects. He started the Times’s investigative unit in 2000. Projects he supervised at the Times on Mexican corruption (published in 1997) and the rise of Al Qaeda (published beginning in January 2001) were awarded the Pulitzer Prize. During his years at The Oregonian, the paper won the Pulitzer for breaking news and was a finalist for its investigative work on methamphetamines and charities intended to help the disabled. He is the co-author of “Germs: Biological Weapons and America’s Secret War” (2001).

In the Phone Hacking Scandal, Remember Watergate

From this side of the Atlantic, the British phone hacking scandal seems more about a failure of British law enforcement than of the press to police itself.

Your Handy Guide to Denials in the U.K. Phone Hacking Scandal

Editor's Note on Our Investigation Into Fire Risks at Nuclear Power Plants

Editor’s Note: The Long Road to Justice for Henry Glover

Mexico's Regional Newspapers Limit Reporting of Cartels' Role in Drug Violence

Mexico’s regional newspapers, the source of news for many in the country, downplay the role of drug cartels in assassinations and other attacks on civil authorities. Many papers don’t even cover all the drug-linked executions in their localities.

Experts, Intelligence Agencies Question a Defector's Claims About Burma's Nuclear Ambitions

An analysis that contends Burma has begun a program to build nuclear weapons is disputed by the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Energy and outside experts who say the evidence provided by a Burmese defector does not support its conclusions.

Editor's Note: How We Got the Government's Secret Dialysis Data

After two years of delays, the government recently fulfilled ProPublica's request for data that track whether death, hospitalization and infection rates at dialysis clinics are better or worse than expected.

Editor's Note: Dollars for Docs

The stories ProPublica is publishing today on the drug industry are part of a broader effort to expand the possibilities of collaborative journalism.

How WikiLeaks Could Change the Way Reporters Deal With Secrets

Journalists often consulted with sources on whether to release sensitive information, but the WkiLeaks case changes all that.

Slate Takes a Closer Look at the Tragedy of a Bullied Teenager

A Slate report delves into the case of Phoebe Prince and the teenagers accused of driving her to suicide.

Reverse Ferret! When Stories Bite Back

While politicians jumped the gun in the Shirley Sherrod saga, reporters once again showed the value of … reporting.

The Questionable Cost of America's Spy Games

Everyone loves a good spy story, but as recent cases show, they don't always live up to the hype. Witness the cases of the suburban sleepers and the Iranian nuclear scientist.

When the Police Control the Press

Photographer Briefly Detained by Police Near BP's Texas City Refinery

A photographer taking pictures of a BP Texas refinery for ProPublica was detained by police, a Homeland Security agent and a BP security officer before being released.

Covering the Bank Investigations: A Cautionary Tale

Each announcement of another banking "investigation" can raise more questions than it answers: Is it preliminary? Fishing? Does it mean anything? Caution is needed when journalists report on them.

Why We’re Giving Away Our Reporting Recipe

When an Intelligence Story Isn’t

Sebastian Rotella Joins ProPublica's Reporting Team

In the Eye of New Orleans

Familiarity Breeds Content

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