I am a freelance journalist and recent graduate of the University of Kansas, where I earned a Bachelors of Science in journalism with a minor in environmental studies in December 2025. Before I went back to school I spent almost twenty years as a fine wine sales consultant for importers, distributors, and retailers.

I am the recipient of the 2025 James Mark Pittman Memorial award for investigative journalism, awarded by the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at KU.

My journalistic interests lie in the areas of ecology, restoration and conservation work, data journalism, and science writing. I love exploring the intersection of agriculture and ecology. I also enjoy investigative reporting and trying to shake the truth from conflict.

I believe that journalists should be fiercely independent. I do not believe that journalists should be activists or beholden to activists. Democracy and free speech are my north stars.

When I am not reading, reporting, or writing, I’m usually at the gym lifting weights, playing ice hockey, or watching hockey. If I had Hermione’s time-turner, I would read more books. I especially love detective novels and narrative non-fiction. I’m really good at cooking, making my wife happy, and making up silly songs about my dogs.

You can follow me on X, though I’m not very active: @ErinRSocha