This year has been interesting for me as a journalist in Texas. In this profession, reporting the facts and the truth is of the utmost importance. But as they say,…truth is stranger than fiction.
In my two beats, education and politics, change is the only constant, and 2024 stood as a testament. This also means it was a year of growth—in learning, sharpening my skills, and taking deeper dives than I did the year before.
One of the biggest highlights of my career was working on the turmoil Houston ISD went through, including the proposal and failure of a $4.4 billion bond. I spoke with people from the community whose movement led to this historic decision. I attended board meetings and protests, visited campuses, and interviewed HISD representatives, principals, teachers, and parents. It is an ongoing journey and reporting on the largest school district in Texas is no easy job. But man, is it rewarding!
I also began working on a fresh beat—local and state governance, attending city council meetings and public hearings. This helped me understand the pulse of the city…what matters to people and what enrages them. Along the way, I met some incredible people.
By the looks of it, Houstonians will continue to turn up for what’s right and we must be there to listen as journalists, our notepads in hand. It also means we must hold those in power accountable.
As you can tell, there will be a lot to report on in 2025, and we will be right here reporting on them, focusing on Houston’s Black community. In our daily lives, it is common to lose sight of the bigger picture, but that’s why we are here to do the work in the background. And we will continue to do so through 2025!
