Mission, vision and about
Mission
To provide Southern Arizona with robust, community-based journalism emphasizing solutions, local governments, education, sustainability, social services and politics, and issues through the lens of the Hispanic community.
Vision
To spotlight undercovered topics and communities, providing Southern Arizonans the tools they need to seek solutions while amplifying the voices of new, emerging and diverse journalists.
About us
Tucsonspotlight.org is a nonprofit newsroom. It's led by Caitlin Schmidt, a long-time Tucsonan who believes in the value of locally owned and reported news. Tucson Spotlight provides opportunities for journalism students and new graduates to gain experience and showcase their work.
Caitlin has lived in Tucson for 25 years. She spent a decade reporting for the Arizona Daily Star before co-founding the Tucson Agenda and Tucson Spotlight. She's chair of the Journalism Advisory Council at the University of Arizona and is a UA and Pima Community College alum.
Our work is supported by the Local News Initiative of Southern Arizona, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, and grants from the Listening Post Collective, the Solutions Journalism network and more.
Our network
Ethics policy
Tucson Spotlight follows the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. We seek truth and report it, strive to minimize harm, act independently and hold ourselves to high standards of accountability and transparency.
Contact us
Contact Caitlin at caitlin@tucsonspotlight.org with questions, suggestions and concerns.
Caitlin Schmidt, Diana Ramos and Macy Hernandez.
Caitlin Schmidt is editor and publisher of Tucson Spotlight and a graduate of the University of Arizona.
Diana Ramos is Tucson Spotlight'a director of bilingual initiatives and a University of Arizona alum.
Macy Hernandez is a business administration and journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight's social media manager.
Topacio "Topaz" Servellon, Katlyn Vargas and Nya Belcastro.
Topacio "Topaz" Servellon is a Tucson Spotlight reporter.
Katlyn Vargas is a journalism and anthropology major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Nya Belcastro is a journalism student at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Ian Davis, Marlon Bedoy and Joey Bernal Alonzo
Ian Davis is a Pima Community College student and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Marlon Bedoy is a Pima Community College student and intern with Tucson Spotlight.
Joey Bernal Alonzo is a University of Arizona student and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Hugo Sydow, Christy Russell and Lily Cottam.
Hugo Sydow is a University of Arizona student and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Christy Russell is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Lily Cottam is a journalism major at the Universsity of Arizona and intern at Tucson Spotlight.
Kamsi Kanma-Okafor, Allison Kuester, and Ahva Ghazanfari.
Kamsiyochukwu Kanma-Okafor is a University of Arizona journalism student and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Allison Kuester is a Northwestern University student and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Ahva Ghazanfari is a University of Arizona student and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Kenia Licea, Abril Ruiz and Ava Schrag.
Kenia Licea is a University of Arizona journalism student and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Abril Ruiz is a student at the University of Arizona School of Journalism and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Ava Schrag is a University of Arizona journalism student and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Gabriel Sadza, Zaida Josephene-White and Ryder Jerome.
Gabriel Sadza is a student at University High School and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Zaida Josephene-White is a Sahuaro High School student and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Ryder Jerome is a student at Ironwood Ridge High School and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Priscilla Daniel, Edgardo Rodriguez and Quentin Agnello.
Priscilla Daniel is a student at San Miguel High School and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Edgardo Rodriguez is a student at San Miguel High School and Tucson Spotlight intern.
Quentin Agnello is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist living in Tucson.
Gabrielle Cotnoir, Emma Diaz and Isabella Knaggs.
Gabrielle Cotnoir is a University of Arizona journalism alum and freelance journalist in Tucson.
Emma Diaz is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist based in Tucson.
Isabella Knaggs is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist in Tucson.
Ian Stash, Isabel Vidrio and Ambur Wilkerson.
Ian Stash is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist based in Tucson.
Isabel Vidrio is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist based in Tucson.
Ambur Wilkerson is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist covering Southern Arizona.
Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please support our work with a paid subscription.