MaryJo Webster

MaryJo Webster has been a data journalist for 20 years and is gearing up for her third time analyzing and telling stories from decennial census data. Currently the data editor for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, she teams up with reporters on stories across a wide range of topics and beats. She started her career as a reporter at small daily papers in Minnesota and Wisconsin before attending the University of Missouri-Columbia to specialize in investigative reporting and data journalism. While earning her master’s degree, she also worked for Investigative Reporters and Editors, where she polished her data skills and taught others. After graduating in 2001, she became the first data editor at the Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C. She spent several years as sports data editor for USA Today, then moved home to Minnesota and spent nine years as data editor for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, followed by a short stint as a data reporter with Digital First Media. She also spent 10 years as an adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota’s journalism school. Webster is currently a senior fellow for the Center for Health Journalism’s Data Fellowship program and is a regular speaker at journalism conferences.