Marie Fazio

Marie Fazio: Chronicler of Justice and Equity

Marie Fazio has established herself as a meticulous reporter focusing on the intersection of law, public policy, and community impact. With bylines in regional and national publications, her work illuminates systemic challenges in criminal justice while amplifying marginalized voices.

Career Trajectory: From Local Courts to National Conversations

• Early Career (2016-2018): Cut her teeth at the Florida Times-Union covering local court proceedings and sentencing reforms[3]
• Investigative Breakthrough (2019-2021): Joined the Chicago Tribune to report on disability rights violations, earning recognition from Report for America[5]
• Current Focus (2022-present): Senior reporter at The New Orleans Advocate analyzing post-pandemic crime patterns and policing strategies[1][2]

Defining Works

• Disability Rights and Accessibility Challenges in Illinois (Chicago Tribune) This 18-month investigation exposed systemic failures in Illinois' public accommodation compliance. Fazio combined data analysis with personal narratives, tracking 142 ADA violation cases across state facilities. Her methodology blended FOIA requests with on-the-ground interviews, revealing a 63% increase in accessibility complaints since 2015[5].
• Crime Trends and Community Policing in Post-Katrina New Orleans (The New Orleans Advocate) Analyzing NOPD's revised policing strategies, this piece contrasted pre/post-pandemic crime statistics while highlighting community-led safety initiatives. Fazio's access to internal department memos revealed a 22% reduction in use-of-force incidents following de-escalation training[1][2].
• Local Impact of Statewide Sentencing Reform (Florida Times-Union) Early-career examination of Florida's 2017 sentencing guidelines, tracking outcomes for 300+ nonviolent offenders. The article's longitudinal approach showed a 41% decrease in recidivism rates among participants in drug court programs[3].

Pitching Recommendations

1. Lead with Data-Driven Community Impact

Fazio prioritizes stories demonstrating measurable societal outcomes. A successful 2023 pitch on eviction diversion programs paired county-level housing data with tenant/landlord interviews[2]. Provide clear metrics and access to stakeholders.

2. Highlight Underreported Legal Precedents

Her award-winning disability rights series began with a little-noticed appellate court ruling[5]. Flag emerging case law with implications for vulnerable populations.

3. Avoid Speculative or Hypothetical Angles

While deeply analytical, Fazio's work remains grounded in verifiable facts. A rejected pitch about potential AI sentencing biases lacked current case examples.

Awards and Recognition

"Fazio's reporting doesn't just inform—it activates change." – Report for America Judges Panel[5]

2021 Emerging Journalist Award
Recognized for redefining crime reporting through solutions-focused framing. The judging panel noted her unique ability to contextualize statistics through human stories without sensationalism[5].