Rebekah Zemansky was born curious. She completed a double major in political science and international studies at the University of Kansas followed by a Master’s at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She has been a News21 Carnegie-Knight fellow reporting on the U.S.-Mexico border and a staff reporter covering public safety for Cronkite News. She’s ridden on border patrols, hiked with humanitarians, and conducted interviews in parking lots, morgues, shelters and tattoo shops as well as the Arizona state capitol. She’s traveled more than she deserves to but not nearly as much as she wants to. She hopes to combine her interests, skills, and training for collecting multimedia and telling diverse stories. Her
She couldn’t do this alone and wants to thank: Fernanda, Lauren and Chrystall for inspiration and encouragement, Mykaela, Ryan and Brian for joining the project, and Ellen and Steven for unconditional support including proof reading, road trips and dinners.
DEPTH REPORTING ON BORDER ISSUES
• Northbound – Four snapshots of crossing southern Arizona.
• Unidentified Dead Common on the Border – A report exploring how doctors, law enforcement, forensic anthropologists and families of missing immigrants band together in an effort to match unidentified dead bodies with missing persons along the U.S.-Mexico border in southern Arizona. (also available in pdf or through the News21 2010 ASU Team site)
• Death in the Desert 2004 – 2010 – An interactive data map for Unidentified Dead Common on the Border showing recorded migrant deaths in southern Arizona from January 2004 to July 14, 2010.
• Missing & Missed – Concepcion and Laura Elizabeth traveled through the Arizona-Sonora bordertown of Nogales in the summer of 2009 – and were never heard from again. (also available in pdf or through the News21 2010 ASU Team site)
• Family Ties – The story of two families linked by living with loss (interviews and other background material from Missing & Missed).
• VOBI – 25 assorted interview clips from academics, activisits, law enfocement and politicians on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border about area issues in the summer of 2010.
• Trapped in violence: Undocumented abuse victims face hurdles – A spring 2011 report on undocumented women facing domestic violence.
• Undocumented Abuse – Interviews and other background material from Trapped in violence: Undocumented abuse victims face hurdles.
• Uncertain Journey – Interviews and other background material from Unidentified Dead Common on the Border.
• Violencia Domestica | Domestic Violence (Lifelines: Stories from the Human Safety Net on 1 November 2014) – a bilingual shelter helps immigrant women find freedom from fear.
ARTICLES ON BORDER ISSUES
• Weekly Border roundups at Tucson Sentinel
• Medical examiner’s unique technique helps ID desert dead – Tucson Sentinel on 21 January 2014
• Man shot, killed in struggle with Border Patrol – Tucson Sentinel on 17 January 2014
• Border activists declare victory after protest at closed Phx ICE HQ – Tucson Sentinel on 16 October 2013
• Arizona: Aid Denial Appealed – The New York Times on 4 September 2013
• Demonstration at Arizona Border Divides Supporters of Immigration Overhaul – The New York Times on 4 August 2013
• Dream Nine detainees escalate protest with hunger strikes – Tucson Sentinel on 31 July 2013
• 9 in Deportation Protest Are Held in Bid to Re-enter U.S. (contributor) – The New York Times on 23 July 2013
• Immigrants Reach Beyond a Legal Barrier for a Reunion – The New York Times on 11 June 2013
• Puppies join Border Patrol effort to sniff out smugglers – Tucson Sentinel on 24 May 2013
• Arizona Desert Swallows Migrants on Riskier Paths with photos: Relics of a Deadly Journey and interactive map: Migrant Deaths in Southern Arizona – The New York Times on 20 May 2013
• Crash kills 5, injures 15 after Border Patrol chases SUV – Tucson Sentinel on 22 April 2013
• Yuma border agents fight fires, smugglers in busy week – Tucson Sentinel on 21 March 2013
• Man arrested while digging Nogales drug tunnel – Tucson Sentinel on 22 February 2013
• Border Patrol activity: Woman caught with 1.9 lbs of meth at checkpoint – Tucson Sentinel on 1 February 2013
• Shooting: Border Patrol agent wounds man south of Gila Bend – Tucson Sentinel on 6 December 2012
• Few details on Sunday’s fatal shooting by Border Patrol – Tucson Sentinel on 5 December 2012
• Border Patrol agent shoots, kills rock-thrower across border – Tucson Sentinel on 11 October 2012
• FBI: BP Agent Ivie likely killed by friendly fire – Tucson Sentinel on 5 October 2012
• ME: Dever intoxicated, not wearing seatbelt during fatal rollover – Tucson Sentinel on 5 October 2012
• Border roundup: BP agent killed, Southwest faces enviro threats – Tucson Sentinel on 5 October 2012
• Vigil, funeral services scheduled for BP Agent Nicholas Ivie – Tucson Sentinel on 5 October 2012
• Family of slain BP agent: ‘He was a hero’ – Tucson Sentinel on 4 October 2012
• Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Ivie killed, another wounded near Naco – Tucson Sentinel on 2 October 2012
• Santa Cruz County prepares for opening of $48 million jail – Cronkite News on Thursday 10 March 2011
• Officials: Multi-agency effort has been making border safer – East Valley Tribune on Wednesday 9 February 2011 (also Cronkite News)
• Gallardo: Close ‘loophole’ in state law involving gun shows – Arizona Capitol Times on Wednesday 2 February 2011 (also Cronkite News)
• Drug cartel gun purchasing rings broken up – Tucson Sentinel on Wednesday 26 January 2011 (also Cronkite News)
• Land swaps would preserve bases, aid conservation, supporters say – Tucson Sentinel on Thursday 14 October 2010 (also Cronkite News)
• Pima County, Mexican officials agree to share DNA data on border remains – Arizona Capitol Times on Tuesday 5 October 2010 (also Cronkite News)
• SENTRI speeds up pedestrian lines – Nogales International, Tuesday 5 October 2010 (also Cronkite News)
• Many Arizona residents join in as Mexico celebrates bicentennial – Cronkite News on Thursday 16 September 2010
