Jessica Pearce | Civics Reporter

Jessica Pearce is the civics reporter for The Journal and a Report for America corps member. She uses traditional storytelling and multimedia approaches to examine how Kansans, particularly young voters, connect with elected officials, government and public institutions.

Jessica is a recent graduate of Oklahoma State University, where she earned degrees in journalism and political science. Before joining The Journal, she interned with Oklahoma Watch, an investigative nonprofit newsroom based in Oklahoma City, and NonDoc, a nonprofit media organization focused on undercovered civic issues in Oklahoma. She also wrote for OSU’s student-run newspaper, The O’Colly. Her previous work includes coverage of food insecurity and drug addiction in rural Oklahoma, profiles of prominent students and alumni, Tribal Council elections, and housing and infrastructure legislation.

Jessica grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, where she had her first exposure to civic engagement as the student advisor to her district’s board of education. She is an avid musician who played piano and trumpet through college, and she loves all animals, including her family’s doglets and flock of guineafowl. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys reading, cooking, kayaking and playing The Sims.

Read Jessica’s reporting in The Journal by visiting her author page.