Panashe Matemba-Mutasa
Panashe’s journalism career began during her undergrad four years ago, when she was approached by the editor in chief of Minnesota’s Mshale Newspaper and offered a position as a general assignment reporter. There, she covered some of the most impactful pieces of legislation in the state’s recent history, including the passage of the CROWN Act, Governor Tim Walz’s Driver’s License for All Bill, and the swearings-in of the first Black women ever elected to the Minnesota state senate. Her reporting at Mshale led to an internship at The Minnesota Daily, where she spent a semester covering arts and culture.
As a J-school student she has continued her commitment to local reporting. For Richmond Confidential, she produced an investigation into a local school district’s illegal use of computer software to replace foreign language instructors.
Panashe currently reports for Tri-City Voice, where her work ranges from enterprise stories on public school underfunding to feel-good profiles of local restaurants. She also contributes the occasional feature story to East Bay Express.
EDUCATION
BA in Communication Studies, University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
National Association of Black Journalists
REPORTING INTERESTS
Arts and Culture, Community Reporting, Local government, Small Businesses, public schools