Reno Gazette Journal Added Photojournalist to Team
The position is funded through local reader donations and a grant managed by the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Scholarships
The Reno Gazette Journal has hired photojournalist Abra Richardson to cover social issues across Northern Nevada. Richardson joins the outlet following a background that includes work for the Chicago Tribune and an Emmy-winning project at NBC 5.
Why it matters
Local newsrooms are increasingly turning to community grants and reader-funded roles to bolster coverage of regional social issues. This hiring reflects a broader shift in Northern Nevada toward sustaining specialized reporting roles through philanthropic and public support.
The new photojournalist role is supported by reader donations and a grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada. The exact total funding amount remains undisclosed.
The players
Abra Richardson
A photojournalist hired by the Reno Gazette Journal to report on social issues in Northern Nevada.
Reno Gazette Journal
The local news organization that hired the new photojournalist to expand its visual reporting.
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
The local entity managing the grant funding that supports this journalism position.
The details
Abra Richardson will focus on capturing social issues throughout Northern Nevada. A 2024 graduate of Columbia College in Chicago, Richardson brings prior experience from the Appleton Post-Crescent, the Ann Arbor News, and freelance work for outlets including Bloomberg and The Associated Press. The Reno Gazette Journal announced the new position on October 9, 2026.
Timeline
2024: Richardson graduated from Columbia College.
October 9, 2026: The hiring was formally announced by the outlet.
The Truckee Meadows View
This hiring follows a pattern set by the NewsMatch program, which supports local newsrooms through matching donation campaigns. The inclusion of a dedicated photojournalist in Reno tracks with regional efforts to maintain visual storytelling capacity through community-backed funding models.
Readers interested in the longevity of this local reporting role can review the ongoing fundraising initiatives. Supporting these efforts directly contributes to the maintenance of staff coverage for social issues in our neighborhoods.
The takeaway
The addition of a new photojournalist indicates an increased focus on visual reporting for Northern Nevada social issues. Track the impact of this coverage through the Reno Gazette Journal's recent reporting on regional community affairs.
Further reading
For more information on how local reporting is supported in our region, visit the Scholarships section.
More information
To learn more about supporting this work, visit the RGJ Fund for Local Journalism donation page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reno Gazette Journal.
