Claire Tighe and Lauren Kaori Gurley, Official Reports of Violence Against Women in Puerto Rico Unreliable After Hurricane Maria

Claire Tighe and Lauren Gurley investigated inconsistent official reporting of violence against women in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María. The piece uncovered a massive system of irregularities in reporting instances of domestic violence and sexual assault on the island, exacerbated by the hurricane. They conducted their research in Spanish and English, interviewing officials, domestic violence shelter workers, and advocates in rural and urban areas across the island. Research for the piece began in January 2018 and culminated with in-person interviews and reporting in April 2018. The final piece included Tighe’s original photography and data visualizations created in partnership with Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (data supplied by Tighe and Gurley’s original reporting). El Centro published the piece in English and Spanish. The story made front-page print news in Metro Puerto Rico, was republished by seven additional international outlets, including Noticel, LatinDispatch.com, Tu Noticia PR, Latino Rebels, Sin comillas, El Nuevo Herald, and Stylist.co UK, and picked up by Jezebel and Bustle.