I want to say something to new parents in #journalism for a minute.
11 months ago, I was breastfeeding on maternity leave when Pulitzers were announced. I don't go nuts for awards, but I was thinking... how am I ever going to find time to do work of that caliber? Especially now?

A couple of months later, I started back to work full time. I had missed covering some of the major news events of our time, it felt like, while on leave. But I wanted to contribute something.

I started filing records request for an idea I had the week I got back from leave. That was the first of July. I wasn't sure if it would turn up anything good, but I thought it might. Then, elections got busy; I wasn't sure if I would ever finish.

But I had the support of a really great editor, @dgblankinship, who encouraged me to finish this project. This isn't a sweeping national investigation, but it's something that wasn't out there before, and I am glad we were able to do it. #waleg https://crosscut.com/news/2021/04/nearly-200-cops-credibility-issues-still-working-washington-state

I say this because I know a lot of new parents right now who feel overwhelmed. Having a baby in a pandemic is a lot. (Living in a pandemic is a lot). But things get easier and you will still do cool things.
You will be OK. Journalism will still be there in a year. I promise.