On December 22 2023, the New York Times briefing “The Morning” highlighted the Top 25 stories of the year produced by local newsrooms. 

One of the stories it cited—a FIRE-supported investigation on the Baton Rouge Police Department, for Verite News—was not recognized as a freelancer contribution.  

But it might never have reached the public any other way—or without FIRE’s help. 

Reporters Daryl Khan and Clarissa Sosin secured extensive public records to document flaws in the internal review of brutality complaints against the Baton Rouge Police Department. 

They produced the story with the full complement of FIRE services: a grant, expenses, full Virtual Newsroom reporting services, and our Contract Template for indemnification. 

"As freelancers we were tackling a vital and sensitive story that needed the strength of a newsroom behind it. FIRE provided that life line," wrote Sosin and Khan. "It's really hard to overstate their importance to this story."

Theirs is not the only such testimonial. In just under a decade, FIRE has altered the journalism landscape with a sharp focus on freelance investigative reporters.