Archive
The Fuller Project’s Aaron Glantz wrote an OpEd for NPR reflecting on his time as a Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow and the impact Rosalynn Carter had on journalists.
The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition mentioned The Fuller Project’s objection to a suppression of sex assault case records that were admitted into evidence in open court hearings amid an investigation on dating apps facilitating sexual violence.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kimberly Abbott
Phone: 202-441-4404
Email: Kabbott@fullerproject.org
November 13, 2023
Washington, DC – The Fuller Project, a global investigative news organization focused on women, filed papers in Denver District Court Friday that seek to make public records in the case of Colorado cardiologist and alleged serial rapist Stephen Matthews, which have been presented in open court. Matthews stands charged of sexually assaulting nearly a dozen women, in attacks that prosecutors say were facilitated by the dating apps Tinder and Hinge.
“The documentation of how Stephen Matthews used dating apps is pivotal to understanding how these apps were weaponized to cause harm on such a large scale and is essential to preventing something like this from happening again,” said Emily Elena Dugdale, a reporter for The Fuller Project and fellow with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting’s AI Accountability Network.
The Fuller Project became aware of this case as a part of a larger investigation on dating app facilitated sexual violence.
The news organization has also established a confidential text line (213) 373-4260 and email address apps@fullerproject.org. Survivors of sexual assault and others with knowledge of violence linked to dating apps are invited to reach out anonymously via email, SMS, Signal, or WhatsApp to reach our reporters. We will not share any information without your explicit permission.
The Fuller Project’s action, which joins a court filing by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press on behalf of the Colorado News Collaborative, argues that Judge Eric. M. Johnson erred when he ordered certain court records be “suppressed” from public access until the conclusion of Matthews’ trial. The trial is set to be held next March.
Hanisha Harjani, a reporter for The Fuller Project, said the ruling puts women at risk: “When the public is blocked from knowledge like this, it allows harm to keep perpetuating.”
In their filing, the news organizations argue that Judge Johnson’s ruling violates rule 55.1 of the Colorado Rule of Criminal Procedure, which sets a strong presumption of public access to judicial records in criminal cases. They also point out that records detailing Matthews’ use of dating apps were admitted in open court.
“Having allowed these public observations, this Court cannot now put the genie back in the bottle and restrict access to these Exhibits,” reads the objection filed by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press on behalf of Colorado News Collaborative.
The Fuller Project is the global newsroom dedicated to groundbreaking reporting that catalyzes positive change for women.
The Fuller Project’s reporting on Afghan suicides was mentioned in GIJN’s 10 Questions with Zahra Nader.
The Fuller Project’s Hanisha Harjani was featured on Cap Radio to discuss their story about a new CA bill awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature that would require VC firms to disclose the demographics of the companies they fund.
The Fuller Project’s Hanisha Harjani was featured on WBUR’s Here & Now to discuss their story about a new CA bill awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature that would require VC firms to disclose the demographics of the companies they fund.
Politico’s Women Rule newsletter mentioned The Fuller Project’s reporting on Susan Chomba, a climate scientist who is leading the fight against climate change.
Cal Matters highlighted our story on the cash apps that are targeting young women – who often end up in debt.
The Fuller Project’s Aaron Glantz was featured on NPR’s Here & Now to discuss his reporting on the young women who are finding themselves trapped in a cycle of debt as they tap into largely unregulated Earned Wage Access apps that offer emergency cash ahead of proven, upcoming paychecks.
Politico CA Playbook mentioned The Fuller Project’s reporting on working mothers struggling to make ends meet as California’s pandemic relief is set to expire.
Politico Playbook PM mentioned The Fuller Project’s newest board members.
Fortune’s Broadsheet newsletter mentioned veteran TV producer Stacey Samuel’s appointment to the board.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mariyah Espinoza
Phone: 702-355-9551
Email: mespinoza@fullerproject.org
Washington DC — February 15, 2023 – The Fuller Project announced today that it has been named a Gold winner in News & Journalism for best Human & Civil Rights media project for the video, “Afghan Women’s Year-long Fight Against the Taliban” in the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards.
Anthem Winners are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Members include: Nicholas Thompson, CEO, The Atlantic, Christina Swarns, Executive Director, Innocence Project, Zarna Surti, Global Creative Director, Nike Purpose, Maurice Mitchell, National Director, Working Families Party, Lindsay Stein, Chief Purpose Office, Tombras, Jennifer Lotito, President & Chief Operating Officer, (RED), Lisa Sherman, President & CEO, The Ad Council, Emily Barfoot, Global Brand Director Dove, Unilever, Trovon Williams, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, NAACP, Roma McCaig, Senior VP of Impact, Clif Bar, Michelle Egan, Chief Strategy Officer, NRDC, Dinah-Kareen Jean, Senior Manager, Social Innovation, Etsy, Sarah Kate Ellis, President & CEO, GLAAD, Jad Finck, Vice President of Innovation & Sustainability, Allbirds, Christopher Miller, Head of Global Activism Strategy, Ben & Jerry’s, Shayla Tait, Director of Philanthropy The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.
A year after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and stripped women of their basic human rights, the women are still fighting – in the streets, in their homes, from jail, and on social media. Our video chronicled 365 days of protests as Afghan women pleaded with the world to help, and builds on our reporting series, “Ending America’s Forever War: What is next for Afghan women?” documenting what the end of America’s longest war on foreign soil has meant for the women who lived through it.
“Since launching this platform in June of 2021, we have seen that social change has emerged as a dominant force in mainstream culture.” said Anthem Awards Managing Director Jessica Lauretti. “The sheer number, breadth and overall quality of the entries shared with us in the 2nd Annual Awards is a testament to the strength of this growing movement and demonstrates an enduring commitment to the work that is both humbling and inspiring to see. From the war in Ukraine, to protests in Iran and the ongoing battle for equality here at home in the States, the call for change not only perseveres but is a growing global chorus.
Winners for the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards will be celebrated at the Winners Celebration on February 27 in NYC. Fans will be able to hear from social impact leaders and their hallmark speeches at www.anthemawards.com.
The Anthem Awards was launched in response to the prevalence social good has taken within the national conversation and cultural zeitgeist in recent years. The 2nd Annual competition received nearly 2,000 entries from 43 countries worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. A portion of program revenue will fund a new grant program supporting emerging individuals and organizations working to advance the causes recognized in the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards.
The Fuller Project is the global newsroom dedicated to groundbreaking reporting that catalyzes positive change for women.
Washington, DC, February 13, 2023 – The Fuller Project has appointed Foreign Policy editor in chief Ravi Agrawal, veteran TV producer Stacey Samuel, award-winning media executive David Payne and entrepreneur and data scientist Maria Liberman to its board of directors, effective immediately. They will each serve three year renewable terms and will work with the board committees to help steward The Fuller Project as it enters its eighth year. The new members were formally approved at The Fuller Project’s board meeting last week.
“Ravi, Stacey, David and Maria share our vision of a world where women have equal standing in society, spurred by groundbreaking reporting,” said Xanthe Scharff, co-Founder and CEO of The Fuller Project. “We are thrilled to welcome them to The Fuller Project and grateful for their expertise and partnership as we continue to grow and deepen our impact.”
In addition to his role as editor in chief of Foreign Policy, Ravi Agrawal hosts FP Live and is a frequent commentator on world affairs on TV and radio. Before joining FP in 2018, Agrawal worked at CNN for more than a decade in full-time roles spanning three continents, including as the network’s New Delhi bureau chief and correspondent. He has shared a Peabody Award and three Emmy nominations for his work as a TV producer, and his writing for FP was part of a series nominated for a 2020 National Magazine Award for columns and commentary. Agrawal is the author of India Connected: How the Smartphone Is Transforming the World’s Largest Democracy. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was named an Asia21 Fellow by the Asia Society. He is a graduate of Harvard University.
Stacey Samuel is an award-winning journalist, with more than 20 years of experience covering stories that span the globe and is now the founder of her own media company. She leverages her network media experience to work with outstanding storytellers, news and media outlets to elevate their stories and projects to have greater impact and wide audience reach. She is a fellow with the East-West Center as well as the German-American journalism exchange program: Radio In the American Sector (RIAS). Stacey’s focus has broadened into telling stories through a global lens. Stacey most recently served as the Executive Producer of Al Jazeera English’s flagship news and current affairs podcast, The Take, which was recognized with several award wins, including the Online News Association’s Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling. Prior to this post, she was supervising editor for National Public Radio (NPR), where each day her job was crafting the news that shaped our national discourse and highlighted the human condition.
David Payne is currently a Fellow at Stanford’s Distinguished Career Institute in Palo Alto. Originally trained as an attorney and serving as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., David spent 15 years at Turner Broadcasting where he was general counsel of Turner’s sports teams and, subsequently, led CNN Digital as SVP/General Manager. David later served as Chief Digital Officer of Fortune 500 company Gannett. David’s multi-decade media career has included responsibilities for general management, editorial, strategy, product, design, technology, business development and sales. Currently, David is also the writer and producer of the award-winning investigative podcast series, Somebody Somewhere, which was recognized as a Spotify Editor’s Choice and has over 4M downloads to date. In his “spare” time, David represents pro bono clients seeking post-conviction relief for their sentences in California’s Superior Courts.
Maria Liberman is a Los Angeles-based futurist, entrepreneur, investor, and a mom of two. She is CEO of Humanism Co, the first pioneering VC firm that offers equity investments into an individuals’ future financial output. Following this model, she co-launched Libermans Co., a holding company for everything of value that she and her siblings produce over the next 30 years. Liberman is also the Chief Business Officer for Product Science, a service that maximizes mobile applications performance. She recently led the company through a Series A funding round that resulted in a USD 18mln raise. She also co-founded Frank Money Inc., a platform of radical financial transparency and launched a million dollar initiative with social non-profit Hack Club. In 2016, Snap, the company that owns Snapchat, acquired the company that Liberman and her sibling partners founded, Kernel AR, because of their dominance in technology innovation and digital avatars in Augmented Reality. Liberman’s contributions at Snap are credited with reaccelerating growth and success of the company after a massive devaluation that occurred as a result of mobile performance issues.
Current members of the board who will continue in their roles include: Sarah O’Hagan, Deneen Howell, Gina Maya, Jodi Rudoren, Mary G. Berner, Ritu Sharma, Robert “Rosey” Rosenthal, and Tim Isgitt.
About The Fuller Project
The Fuller Project is the global newsroom dedicated to groundbreaking reporting that catalyzes positive change for women. We report exclusive stories centered on women that otherwise would not be told. Our long-standing focus on women, especially those facing racial or other forms of bias, leads to journalism that by challenging conventional thinking inspires action. Since we launched in 2015, our reporting has influenced new legislation, helped end life-threatening practices, and led to large scale releases of public data. www.fullerproject.org
For media inquiries please contact Kim Abbott 202-441-4404 or Mariyah Espinoza 702-355-9551
CEO Xanthe Scharff’s OpEd on women missing on the frontlines of coverage in Ukraine was cited in George W. Bush Insitute Report, “Women’s Advancement: Why authoritarians target women and how we can help.”
Louise Donovan was featured on FUBAR Radio’s podcast to discuss her reporting on the issues around the treatment of women in Qatar.
The Fuller Project was featured as a case study for its partnership with Nation Media Group in a new report, “From Outrage to Opportunity: How to Include the Missing Perspectives of Women of All Colors in News Leadership and Coverage.”
Louise Donovan was featured on the Guardian’s Daily Football podcast to discuss her reporting on female migrant workers at Qatar’s hotels alleging harassment and abuse ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
