Nick McMillan Joins ProPublica as Computational Journalist

Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 3:00 pm

ProPublica Welcomes Nick McMillan as Computational Journalist

ProPublica has announced the hiring of Nick McMillan as a computational journalist, a role focused on leveraging technology and data to uncover and report on stories. McMillan will join the data and news apps team, where he will utilize innovative methods to identify and investigate stories that might otherwise remain hidden.

McMillan brings a wealth of experience to ProPublica, having previously worked as a data journalist on the investigations team at NPR. During his time at NPR, he developed tools and techniques to transform raw data into actionable evidence for investigative reporting. His work included creating a custom optical character recognition program to analyze thousands of government files, which helped expose issues within a federal program. He also co-reported a story that revealed how power lines operated by Southern California Edison contributed to wildfires, developing a tool to process and transcribe thousands of hours of first responder radio communications.

Prior to his work at NPR, McMillan contributed to investigative documentaries at Newsy, focusing on topics such as white supremacists in the U.S. military and the long-term impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rican schoolchildren. His reporting has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the National Press Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award.

Ken Schwencke, senior editor for data and news applications at ProPublica, expressed excitement about McMillan's arrival, highlighting his track record of using cutting-edge technology to uncover important stories. McMillan himself expressed enthusiasm for joining ProPublica, citing the organization's leadership in applying data and computational methods to expose abuses of power. He stated his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to investigations that serve the public.

BNN's Perspective:

The addition of a computational journalist like Nick McMillan underscores the evolving landscape of investigative journalism. While the use of data and technology in reporting is not new, the increasing sophistication of these tools allows for deeper dives into complex issues and the potential to uncover truths that might otherwise be missed. This trend, while promising, also necessitates a careful consideration of data privacy and the ethical implications of using advanced technologies in the pursuit of truth.

Keywords: ProPublica, Nick McMillan, computational journalist, data journalism, investigations, NPR, investigative reporting, data analysis, technology, news applications, investigative documentaries, awards, National Press Award, Edward R. Murrow Award, abuses of power

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