Lesley Cosme

Lesley Cosme

Lesley Cosme Torres

Alumni

Lesley Torres is a journalist based in the San Francisco/Bay Area. At the J-School, she’s focusing her reporting on the criminal justice system and police misconduct. She has research, fact-checking skills, and has supported several investigative projects in the newsrooms she’s worked in. Lesley is currently sifting through police records as a data researcher at KQED’s California Reporting Project and this summer she will be working on the health desk at Bloomberg Law.

Her work and research has appeared in KQED News, Oakland North, The Centre Daily Times, The Daily Collegian, Penn State News, and China Daily.

Lesley received her bachelor’s degree in Print Journalism and English from Penn State and is originally from Tampa, FL.

EDUCATION

  • UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism: M.J. Journalism, Expected 2022

  • The Pennsylvania State University: B.A. Journalism, minors in English and Creative Writing, 2020

EMPLOYERS

  • KQED News - Police Misconduct Data Researcher

  • Oakland North - Crime and Policing Reporter

  • The Centre Daily Times - Local News Intern

  • China Daily - Digital Media Intern

AWARDS & HONORS

  • Dean's Merit Fellowship, UC Berkeley, 2020-2022

  • Tom Gibb Journalism Scholarship, Penn State, 2018-2020

MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

  • National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) - member

  • Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) - member

  • Equity and Inclusion Committee - UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism (member)

REPORTING INTERESTS

Criminal Justice, Data Journalism, Investigative reporting, Legal journalism, Policing, Social Justice, narrative writing