James O'Donnell

Former Tow Journalism Fellow, FRONTLINE/Newmark Journalism School Fellowships

James O’Donnell was a reporting fellow at FRONTLINE in 2023. He holds a masters in journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, where he focused on economics and business reporting as a Lisa Goldberg Scholar. He has written for outlets including WNYC, The New Republic, Crain’s New York, Forbes, and City & State.

His interest in data-driven reporting has led him to investigate racial disparities in New York City's opioid addiction treatment programs for Gothamist, analyze police department relationships with Amazon's Ring cameras for the Pulitzer Center's AI Accountability Network, and measure the impact of anti-union campaigns for The New Republic. He hopes to continue his reporting on both the health care system and the workplace at FRONTLINE.

Email:

[email protected]

Languages Spoken:

English

Location:

New York City

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Jack Teixeira Worried About a Security Clearance Investigation Discovering His Online Behavior, a Young Woman Who Dated Him Says
The young man who went on to allegedly leak classified documents on Discord while working at the Air National Guard worried that a security clearance investigation would uncover his behavior on the platform, a young woman who dated him says in a scene from “The Discord Leaks.”
December 12, 2023
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How McConnell's Bid to Reshape the Federal Judiciary Extends Beyond the Supreme Court
Just as Sen. Mitch McConnell helped cement a conservative majority on the Supreme Court for decades to come, experts and journalists told FRONTLINE credit him with helping transform the rest of the federal judiciary.
October 31, 2023
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As Credit Card Debt Hits an All-time High for Americans, Regulators Again Take Aim at ‘Excessive’ Fees
Fourteen years after the CARD Act started saving cardholders billions in fees, regulators are again pushing for stricter rules for credit card companies.
August 16, 2023
America's Dangerous Trucks documentary
How Recent State Laws Are Making It Harder to Sue Trucking Companies After Crashes
Texas, Florida, Iowa and other states have passed new laws backed by trucking industry lobbyists that can limit crash victims’ ability to bring lawsuits or cap the compensation plaintiffs can win.
July 12, 2023
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“Once Upon a Time in Iraq: Fallujah” Filmmaker on Showing the Impact of War on Humans
The FRONTLINE documentary traces the long-lasting aftermath of the battle of Fallujah through two families, one Iraqi and one American.
May 23, 2023
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Amid the Taliban’s Worsening Crackdown on Journalists, News in Afghanistan Is Forced to Adapt
With news outlets facing more censorship and restrictions from the Taliban, Afghans are turning to social media and citizen journalism for information.
April 25, 2023
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‘I Lost My Son’ – A Deeper Look at the Chaos at Kabul Airport When U.S. Forces Left Afghanistan
Part Three of FRONTLINE’s documentary series “America and the Taliban” examines the United States’ rushed exit from Afghanistan and what it left behind.
April 25, 2023
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Federal Reserve Raises Rates as it Juggles Fighting Inflation With a Banking Crisis
The U.S. central bank announced Wednesday it would raise interest rates by a quarter-percent. FRONTLINE’s documentary “Age of Easy Money” offers context on this moment.
March 22, 2023
Russian President Putin Attends Annual Prosecutors Meeting In Moscow
Citing War Crimes in Ukraine, International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Putin
The court alleges there are “reasonable grounds” to believe the Russian president bears “individual criminal responsibility” for the deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.
March 17, 2023
Restaurant Staff Shortages Are Easing In US Labor-Market Shift
Three Numbers That Help Explain What Happened to Inequality During the Pandemic
Experts see small improvements, but not fundamental change.
March 14, 2023
Silicon Valley Bank's Future Remains Uncertain As Branches Reopen On Monday
What Silicon Valley Bank’s Collapse Says About the Easy Money Era Ending
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is among the kinds of disruptions economic experts say may happen as the Federal Reserve winds down its “easy money” policies.
March 14, 2023