Wilson Criscione

What I Do
As news and investigations editor, I lead a team of investigative reporters whose coverage focuses on criminal justice, gender-based violence, labor and youth. Day-to-day, that means developing and honing story ideas, overseeing reporting and editing drafts for publication. In addition to my duties as editor, I also report my own investigations when inspiration strikes.

My Background
A lifelong Washingtonian, I began my career as a journalist at Eastern Washington University’s student newspaper, The Easterner. I went on to work for daily and weekly newspapers across the state, including the Spokesman-Review, Bellingham Herald and Pacific Northwest Inlander, where I became the news editor, before joining InvestigateWest in 2022 as an investigative reporter. My writing has also appeared in the Guardian, Seattle Times, Oregonian, Idaho Statesman and dozens of other publications across the country. I was named the news and investigations editor at InvestigateWest in 2023.

My work as a reporter sparked state and federal investigations, triggered foster care reform, inspired new laws in multiple states and won more than a dozen regional or national awards. A 2023 series I wrote about Idaho youth treatment homes won first place for investigative reporting from the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Institute of Nonprofit News, and importantly, it led the Idaho Legislature to initiate a statewide investigation of youth homes and pass new laws to protect kids.

I live in my hometown of Spokane, Wash. with my wife and our two pets — a golden retriever named Paul and a cat named Melon. In addition to my work at InvestigateWest, I also teach journalism as an adjunct instructor at my alma mater, where I mentor reporters and advise the very same student newspaper that launched my own path as a journalist.

Ethics and Approach
I believe in the power of truth, and I strive to bring it to light through fair and accurate journalism. I demand accountability and transparency of those with power just as I demand it of myself, and I follow those guiding principles at all times.

But there are difficult ethical decisions that journalists make every day, and they’re not always so black and white. Each sentence on the page can impact a person’s life. A wrong word can mischaracterize an entire issue. One slip-up can reveal a source you promised to protect. It’s the responsibility of a journalist not only to dig up the truth, but to do so in a way that minimizes harm to those who are vulnerable. That means paying attention to every detail, no matter how small, with the same scrutiny I’d have if I were to be subject of the story.

Contact Me
If you have a news tip or want to offer feedback, contact me by email.

Email: wilson@investigatewest.org
X: @wilsoncriscione
LinkedIn: Wilson Criscione
Signal: 509-999-8885