We find Kaufmann crafting nuanced narratives about urban life through these lenses:
Successful queries often include:
We trace Kaufmann's career from her early days as a cultural beat reporter at The Pitch, where she honed her knack for capturing the pulse of Kansas City's arts scene. Her transition to public radio through KCUR's Central Standard show marked a pivotal shift toward immersive audio storytelling, blending narrative journalism with community dialogue.
"Kansas City has taught me that you don’t love a city by seeing only the parts that make you comfortable."
Kaufmann's 18-month ethnographic study of Kansas City bus riders revealed how public transit serves as social glue for marginalized communities. Through 40+ rider interviews and 200 hours of route observations, she documented the emergence of informal support networks among daily commuters. Her methodology combined mobility mapping with personal audio diaries, creating a multidimensional portrait of urban transit culture.
Successful pitches should mirror her investigative approach to community infrastructure, as seen in her transit coverage. Focus on how systems (transit, education, housing) create unexpected social bonds. Example: Her 2023 piece on library-based job training programs showed how public spaces foster economic mobility.
Kaufmann prioritizes stories that complicate simplistic refugee narratives. Effective pitches might explore how immigrant groups navigate bureaucratic hurdles while maintaining cultural traditions, similar to her Afghan resettlement series.
2021 PMJA Commentary Award: Recognized for her analysis of segregation's legacy in KC parks, this honor underscores her ability to connect historical patterns to contemporary urban challenges. The Public Media Journalists Association particularly noted her innovative use of archival photos juxtaposed with modern resident testimonials.
Despite long wait times between buses, confusing route changes and other inconveniences, these Kansas Citians use public transit not because they have to, but because they want to. Here's why that matters.
Kansas Citians stirred by horrific scenes from Ukraine are reaching out to Sofia Khan with offers to help refugees who might move here. But Khan is still trying to meet the needs of immigrants from Afghanistan, who began arriving here by the hundreds in October — without the same outpouring of support.
Steve Almond, a fixture in Boston’s literary scene, is the author of 12 books and a teacher of creative writing workshops throughout New England
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Culture, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
