ProPublica announced the hiring of Carla Astudillo as a news applications developer for its award-winning data and news apps team. In this role she will design and develop interactive databases and visual stories that help readers make sense of complex information and understand how it relates to them.
Astudillo was previously a senior data visuals developer at The Texas Tribune, where she built graphics and tools to help readers understand and personalize political and election data in Texas. Her work ranged from maps comparing how Texans’ congressional districts changed this year to numerous election voter guides and live results pages. Her data analysis was critical in investigations into billionaires funding Gov. Greg Abbott’s political career, the delay of Federal Emergency Management Agency aid to Texans affected by the deadly July 4 floods and Trump’s immigration crackdown in Texas.
Prior to her time at the Tribune, Astudillo was a data and interactive visuals journalist at NJ.com and The Star-Ledger, where she helped build a database of police use of force that won two prestigious Online News Association awards and the FOI Award from Investigative Reporters and Editors.
Astudillo has been the recipient of honors including numerous Texas Managing Editors awards and the Texas Medical Association’s Anson Jones Award. She was also a 2024 semifinalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting and a 2019 finalist for the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists. Astudillo has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.
“Carla has a track record of publishing both news applications that inform readers as well as investigative reporting that digs deep into abuses of power,” said Ken Schwencke, senior editor for data and news applications. “She is a natural fit for ProPublica, and I am excited to have her on board.”
“It’s a huge honor to join ProPublica’s news applications team,” said Astudillo. “Throughout my career, I’ve admired the team’s work of making data more accessible to readers while holding powerful interests accountable. I’m so humbled to join such an excellent team of data journalists and developers and collaborate with some of the best reporters in the business.”
