Reporter, editor, coder.

About Isabella Douglas

Isabella Douglas is an award-winning accountability reporter focused on criminal justice, courts, education, public records, government oversight and data-driven investigations. Her reporting has appeared in The Island Packet, The Beaufort Gazette, The Kansas City Star, Fresh Take Florida, WUFT, The Independent Florida Alligator and other publications throughout the Southeast.

A graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in journalism and a concentration in criminology, Isabella specializes in investigative reporting, narrative nonfiction, data analysis and digital storytelling. Her work often combines public records, court documents and data reporting to explain complex issues and hold institutions accountable.

Most recently, Isabella served as the accountability reporter for The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette, where she covered government, education, transportation and criminal justice. Her reporting examined South Carolina's statewide book ban movement, tracked major infrastructure projects, analyzed traffic safety data and covered the ongoing legal fallout surrounding former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill following the Murdaugh murder trials.

Her reporting has earned multiple honors from the South Carolina Press Association, including First Place for Government Beat Reporting and First Place for Arts & Entertainment Writing.

Prior to joining McClatchy, Isabella served as editor-in-chief of The Independent Florida Alligator, one of the nation's largest independent student newspapers. During her tenure, she led a newsroom of more than 70 journalists covering university, local and statewide news. She was also part of the editorial staff recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists as one of the country's best student newspapers.

Isabella has also worked as a reporter for Fresh Take Florida, WUFT News and The Kansas City Star. Her reporting has ranged from investigations and accountability journalism to courts, politics, crime, public policy and narrative features. In addition to reporting, she has developed interactive journalism projects using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python and SQL, including the University of Florida Crime Map and other data-driven storytelling initiatives.

When she is not reporting, Isabella enjoys building interactive news applications, exploring public records and finding new ways to combine journalism, data and technology to tell impactful stories.