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Alyssa Fowers

@alyssafowers.bsky.social
420 followers 107 following 74 posts

Data reporter at City Cast DC, yarn and dogs at home. Sometimes also dogs at City Cast. Talk to me about 311!

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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 10h
I apparently forgot to update my bio for a long time, so here's the scoop: I'm now a data reporter at City Cast DC! I write + report about everything numeric and hyperlocal. So far that is the U.S. Park Police, the suicide lifeline, streateries, paid leave, a really really big dome, + more
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 12h
I started a thread in March asking for examples of data visualizations that focus on the human cost of violence, tragedies, and disasters. Today, the course I built with those examples is out on the Open Visualization Academy, free for everyone: openvisualizationacademy.org/courses/visu...
openvisualizationacademy.org
1.0 Introduction - Visualizing Loss and Tragedy - Open Visualization Academy
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
U.S. Park Police arrests have skyrocketed in the D.C. area this year. Emma Uber and I share the numbers with the public for the first time here: dc.citycast.fm/public-safet... Park Police operate anywhere in the District/surrounding counties. They aren't limited to National Parks.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Crashing out about non-economic adjustments to the QCEW press release. Please respect my privacy at this difficult time.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
DC has one of the nation's lowest 988 Lifeline pickup rates in the nation. For most of this year, roughly 60% of suicide and mental health crisis calls to the 3-digit hotline were picked up by local operators. dc.citycast.fm/news/988-cal...
A line chart showing monthly local pickup rates for 988 Lifeline calls. D.C.
s rate plunged to the lowest in the nation in November 2024, recovered by spring 2025, then dipped again to the lowest in the nation in 2026. For most of 2026, the rate was around 60%, while the national average is 88%. The rate has risen to 73% in July 2026.
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Voilà: Francis Gagnon @chezvoila.com · 25/08/2026
On LinkedIn, @daniellealberti.bsky.social just announced that Axios disbanded its data visualization team yesterday. @visuals.axios.com 📊 She is now looking for a new job. A leader in our field.
Danielle Alberti
Managing Editor, Data Visualization

Yesterday I learned that Axios was eliminating the data visualization team I've built and led for nearly seven years. So, for the first time in a long time, I'm looking for what's next.
I'm so proud of the team we built. At our largest, we were 13 designers and developers spread across the country, making dozens of quick-turnaround visuals a day for the National and Local newsrooms while also producing some stunning longform storytelling. I managed the team entirely remotely, and I'm especially proud of the culture we created while rarely being in the same room. People felt safe trying something weird to see if it landed. We genuinely liked working together, respected each other's work and wanted our teammates to succeed. Even as people moved on to other teams over the years, they kept cheering each other on. Creating a team like that is possibly the best thing I've done in my career.
I also really like making things work better. I put a lot of energy into building systems and workflows and automating processes so we could do more without just asking people to work faster. We built tools that were the envy of the industry and gave people across the newsroom the ability to make sophisticated visualizations themselves.
I sometimes joked that I was trying to automate myself out of a job. Whoops.I've spent most of my career in data visualization, but l've always been a bit of a generalist. I've been a reporter, an editor and a developer, and over the years my job has grown to include everything from engineering and tooling to project management, strategy and people management. The common thread is that I like figuring out how things work, why they aren't working and how to make them better.
So I'm casting a pretty wide net. I'd love to keep working in data visualization, but I'm also very open to jobs outside journalism and roles that don't have "data visualization" in the title.
Mostly, I'm looking for somewhere I can do more of what I'm good at: building great teams, developing talented people and creating systems that help them do great work.
If that sounds like something your team needs, or you know someone I should talk to, please reach out.
Comment, DM, or email me at alberti.danielle@gmail.com.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
There is a whole owl just sitting in the right lane on Connecticut Ave??? (Someone set up an ebike as a barrier to traffic; we’re calling a wildlife rescue and keeping our distance)
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
When the news broke about DC’s Nat’l Guard deployment, I was in a Covid fever haze, scared and unsure about what would happen next. A year later, I’m still not sure. Not because I have a fever, but because there’s little comprehensive information out there. Read: dc.citycast.fm/dc-politics/...
dc.citycast.fm
A Year of National Guard Deployment in D.C., by the Numbers · City Cast DC
What data can — and can't — tell us about the surge in federal law enforcement.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Everyone that Kaela and I talked to for this story (including DDOT) was frustrated–and everyone (including DDOT!) had a point. See where streateries survive, why they needed to change, and how the requirements are shaping the future of dining in DC: dc.citycast.fm/business-dev...
dc.citycast.fm
See Where Streateries Survive in D.C. – And Why So Many Disappeared · City Cast DC
Restaurants resisted. The city government dug in. What if everyone was right?
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Amazing work from former Post colleagues. The reconstructions are chilling. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
washingtonpost.com
ICE officials warned of dangerous crowding. See how they kept packing people in.
Dozens were held for days in small rooms last year with no beds, showers or full-time medical staff, records analyzed by The Post show.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
How tall is the new D.C.-area sphere going to be? Thirty elephants and a small dogs, according to preliminary plans. dc.citycast.fm/local-civics...
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Flicking around livecams to see how bad the smoke is and uhhhh it's pretty bad guys! (Top of the Washington Monument, today vs 2 days ago)
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
ICYMI, DC is cutting paid universal leave benefits: dc.citycast.fm/news/dc-paid...
dc.citycast.fm
D.C. is Making its First Ever Cut to Paid Leave · City Cast DC
Some benefits drop by up to 50% while funds from the paid leave tax go to other programs.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Obsessed with this chart from NOTUS's @andrewvandam.bsky.social www.notus.org/analysis/map...
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Work comes at you fast! My first City Cast story published Friday, and you can hear me talk about it (and the ideal definition of a state fair) on the pod today. For the non-audio-oriented, here's a link to my look at the DC primary numbers: dc.citycast.fm/dc-politics/...
dc.citycast.fm
JLG's Victory Lap, in Charts · City Cast DC
The latest data from the primaries shows Lewis George ahead in 80% of D.C. precincts.
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Annie Waldman @anniewaldman.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Despite all this, raw milk is having a moment, in part because of support from Health Secretary RFK Jr. More than 10 million Americans now drink it. National weekly sales rose by 65% from 2023 to 2024 alone. And more and more states are making it easier to access.
Many States Allow the Sale of Raw Milk
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Annie Waldman @anniewaldman.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
With the rise of MAHA, I wanted to understand why raw milk had grown so popular. What I learned at Raw Farm was so eye-opening, I wondered how long it would take for another outbreak to occur. Unbeknownst to me, one was already underway.
McAfee’s Dairy Has Sickened Hundreds of People Over the Years, According to Regulators
Federal and state regulators have linked 233 outbreak cases to Organic Pastures or Raw Farm. The true number of cases is likely higher.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
So proud to have graphics in this jaw-dropping ProPublica story by Annie Waldman!
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
The word is out! I’m heading to City Cast! (In point of fact, the Washington Post departed me in February, but the main point stands!)
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
For those who showed interest in Horsequest: the results are now up on Instagram at horsequest_dc! Get ready by watching this video of the finalists. For those not interested: this is my last post about it. Promise.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Couple of charts I made for Georgetown University's journalism capstone program! The visuals are based on reporting from Georgia Russello, Caleigh Keating and Lauren Doherty (for the press pool) and Angelena Bougiamas (press briefings). Full version of the press pool graphic in thread!
A chart showing one vertical line for each outlet that moved in and out of the White House press pool from November 2024 through January 2026. When the Trump administration begins in January 2025, new media outlets flood into the pool. Overall movement in and out of the pool also increases.A set of three charts showing the number and length of press briefings in the first 100 days of Trump's first term, Biden's term, and Trump's second term. Trump's first term had 44 briefings average 47 minutes, Biden had 50 briefings averaging 51 minutes, and Trump's second term had 19 briefings averaging 34 minutes.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Note to my nervous system: "job hunt" means *I* am hunting for a job. Not that something is hunting *me.* Please stop preparing me for an action sequence.
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Tan G. @tangandhara.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Rare sighting of a column chart taking a dip at Hove Beach. #dataviz
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Alberto Cairo @albertocairo.com · 16/04/2026
BIG OPEN VISUALIZATION ACADEMY UPDATE: 10+ more instructors and 10+ more courses to be released on a monthly basis #dataViz #infographics #dataJournalism #dataVisualization @alyssafowers.bsky.social @elsieleerobbins.bsky.social @petrinkae.bsky.social @rsimmon.bsky.social and many others
openvisualizationacademy.beehiiv.com
A big update on the Open Visualization Academy
New instructors, new courses, and what to expect in the next 12-15 months
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John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
89% – percentage of disaster aid requests Trump has approved for states with a Republican governor and two Republican senators 23% – percentage of disaster aid requests Trump has approved for states with a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
Line chart showing presidential approval rates for disaster aid requests submitted by Democratic- and Republican-led states, covering the period from the Reagan administration to today. The chart is based on a Politico/E&E News analysis of records from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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depths of wikipedia @depthsofwikipedia.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
are there any more things like this
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Lee Cronin’s Pablo Hidalgo @infinata.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Jacked action hero with goon in headlock, in raspy yet firm voice:
Text saying "You've read your last free article."
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Looking for something extremely silly to do this weekend? Consider Horsequest! IF YOU ARE IN DC: come join me at the National Gallery of Art tomorrow (the 21st) and rate horses in person. IF YOU ARE ELSEWHERE: join Horsequest At Home and rate horses in art online. Links in thread!
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Scott Clement @sfcpoll.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
I can never get enough awesome graphics on the Census Bureau's American Time Use Survey - Pew just released this comparing how men and women spend their time on 12 different activities www.pewresearch.org/feature/how-...
pewresearch.org
How Do US Men and Women Spend Their Time? | Pew Research Center
Explore how Americans spend their time by gender and across age groups.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Searches for International Women's Day peak in March. Searches for International Men's Day ALSO peak in March... even though Men's Day is in November. (From this story on non-religious holidays: www.washingtonpost.com/business/int... You can also see for yourself on Google Trends!)
A line chart showing 5 years of average monthly Google search traffic for International Women's Day and International Men's Day. International Women's Day peaks in March (the month of the holiday), but International Men's Day is slightly higher in March than in November, when it actually takes place.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Data/design folks, what is your favorite visual that focuses on the human cost of violence, tragedies and disasters? The most emotionally impactful visualization? The most visually striking? Please share! I'd like to get as many examples as possible.
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Finished the writeups for my portfolio, with notes on my thinking, concept/process sketches, and behind-the-scenes pictures. www.alyssafowers.com/portfolio If you like scavenger hunts, try to find a wedding picture, volumetric scans of bears, a meme, a minor injury, and bad drawings of birds.
alyssafowers.com
Portfolio — Alyssa Fowers
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Draw your horse. Let it run. Hit the question mark and select SHOW NON HORSES. Trust me. gradient.horse
gradient.horse
gradient.horse
Draw a horse, watch it run!
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
In what universe is this the definition of "humanize," and how can I never ever go there
A screenshot of a Google search for synonyms of the word humanize. The listed synonyms are civilize, improve, better, educate, enlighten, edify, instruct, sophisticate, socialize, refine and polish.
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Washington Post Guild @postguild.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
So many have given to The Post Guild’s fundraising effort, and we are floored. But we also ask you to consider supporting the fundraiser for our international staff and staff in our bureaus who aren’t Guild eligible. They are absolutely vital to coverage. www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo...
gofundme.com
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
A little fashion choice for today’s #SaveThePost rally
Selfie of Alyssa wearing a gray baseball cap with “that wasn’t very data driven of you” written on it in white text
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
I was laid off from the Washington Post today, along with hundreds (!!!) of incredible colleagues. If you need a data journalist, chart designer, or wacky-idea-specialist, give me a shout!
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Alyssa Fowers @alyssafowers.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
How much did the OBBBA increase ICE's annual funding? About 3x, it turns out. And that funding will keep ICE running during a shutdown. Story by @rbeggin.bsky.social and @jacobbogage.bsky.social, h/t Lindsay Koshgarian for data help www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
A line chart showing annual budget authority for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement from 2002 to 2024, and then estimated funding from 2025 to 2028. Annual funding jumps from $9.4B in 2024 to $27.5B from 2026 onwards.
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