2019-20 O'BRIEN FELLOWS

James Causey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

James Causey is a projects reporter and editorial columnist at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where he’s worked since 1995 in a variety of reporting and editing roles. He's also a co-contributor to Black Nouveau on Milwaukee PBS, where he won a regional Emmy Award for the episode "Crossing the Bridge." Causey is a past Harvard Nieman Fellow and USC Health Journalism Fellow, and has received the USA Today Network Award and National Headliner Award. He currently sits on the advisory board for the Center for Journalism Ethics.

Katelyn Ferral, The Capital Times

Katelyn Ferral is an investigative reporter at The Capital Times in Madison, Wisconsin. She published an award-winning investigation on abuses at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, WI. Ferral is a Marquette journalism alumna and has previously reported for the Associated Press, The News & Observer and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. She’s been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, Wisconsin News Association, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Milwaukee Press Club and International Center for Journalists.

Payton Guion, NJ Advance Media

Payton Guion is an investigative reporter at NJ Advance Media in Newark, New Jersey. Previously, Guion has worked at The Santiago Times in Chile, The Mecklenburg Times, VICE News, the United States bureau of The Independent and Asbury Park Press. He has a master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. His investigation exposing squalid conditions and landlord neglect of New Jersey's rental housing prompted state legislation and earned an award from the National Association of Black Journalists.

Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle

Larry Parnass is the investigations editor at The Berkshire Eagle and an adjunct journalism professor at the University of Massachusetts. He has over 30 years of experience as a print reporter and editor, and has also contributed stories to outlets including The Washington Post and Reuters. Parnass and his teams have been recognized by the New England Newspaper & Press Association and the New England Associated Press News Executives Association.