Providing in-depth coverage of the I-81 project and the nearby public housing transformations have been core goals for Central Current since our founding. This summer we are excited to welcome a full-time reporter to our newsroom who will bring her full focus to these critical issues beginning in July.
This position is made possible through a partnership with the national service program Report For America, as well as through support from the Central New York Community Foundation.
Debadrita Sur earned her Masters in journalism at Columbia University where she gained experience reporting on housing and homelessness. She then went to work full-time in 2023 as a reporter for the Buffalo News covering breaking news and long form stories on pedestrian safety, homelessness in Erie County, and reactions to the Middle East conflict among Jewish and Arab families in Western New York. It was in Buffalo that she developed a love of local reporting.
“At a time when accountability journalism is more important than ever in a landscape rife with misinformation, it is vital for local journalists to tell the stories of people who often get left behind amid Washington policy chatter,” writes Sur.
Sur is one of 107 new Report For America corps members beginning their work in communities across the United States. She selected this opportunity to report on the I-81 project and public housing in Syracuse as one of her top choices amidst over 100 opportunities at other newsrooms. Sur grew up in Kolkata, India, and speaks Bengali, English, Hindi, and German.
“As someone who comes from a country with little to no press freedom, being allowed to tell the stories of a community is quite the privilege, and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. I am eager to cover the impact of the I-81 teardown, especially on housing and transportation equity. I hope you will welcome me into your community, and I will be able to do justice to your trust and generosity.”
When she’s not reporting, Sur is either reading, trying to recreate her mom’s chicken recipes, making adventure bucket lists, or playing with her cat, Mountain Dew.
About Report for America:
Report for America is a national service program that places talented early career journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities across the United States and its territories. By creating a new, sustainable model for journalism, Report for America provides people with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable, and restore trust in the media. Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an award-winning nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to rebuilding journalism from the ground up. Learn more at reportforamerica.org
