Saida Nor finds passion for Investigative Reporting in Oakland

Before coming to Oakland Voices this summer, Saida Nor had never done investigative reporting. 

The 24-year-old Seattle resident had experience covering arts and culture and local politics. But after receiving an Ida B. Wells Investigative Reporting Internship and relocating to Oakland in June, she began learning a different kind of journalism that required more time, research, and focus on systems. 

“I had never done investigative reporting before coming to Oakland Voices,” Nor said. “Most of my reporting experience was in local politics and civic coverage. I’ve also done some arts and culture.”

Ida B. Wells Society places emerging journalists from historically underrepresented communities into newsrooms throughout the country. The partnership was a fit with Oakland Voices, a program of the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education.

Nor leads illegal dumping investigation

At Oakland Voices, Nor has spent the summer investigating illegal dumping and its impact on Oakland residents. 

“The beautiful thing about journalism is it allows you to uplift community voices and be a representative for those directly impacted by a particular issue.”

The pace required an adjustment. Instead of a fast turnaround, her Oakland Voices investigation has required research and deep diving.

“One of the things I find different in investigative reporting is there is not a fast turnaround when doing a story,” Nor said. “There’s a lot of research that goes into it. Investigative reporting requires deep diving. I am learning a lot.”

“I definitely want to continue investigative reporting,” Nor said. “I would love to get a full-time job doing investigations or some type of accountability reporting. I’ve become very passionate about it and I’m excited to continue going in this direction.” 

Training future investigative journalist

Oakland Voices’ internship program pairs hands-on training with reporting that serves Oakland communities. Nor has learned skills and gained knowledge in investigative journalism that reinforced Oakland Voices’ key practices: report with, and not simply about people affected by issues. 

“It’s important to actually speak to the people that are affected by different things that are happening in the city,” Nor said. “That’s something Oakland Voices really prioritizes and highlights and that’s what I’m striving to do in my own investigations this summer.”