Kansas Reflector to debut with free content for newspapers

Posted July 16, 2020

TOPEKA — The Kansas Reflector, a nonprofit news operation providing in-depth reporting, diverse opinions and daily coverage of state government and politics, announced today it will launch July 21.

The Kansas Reflector’s team of four award-winning journalists will deliver compelling news stories of public interest and amplify the voices of people whose lives are affected by public policies. This public service is free to readers without advertising, subscription fees or a paywall.

“I am proud and excited to lead this team of talented journalists as we keep Kansans informed,” said Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector’s editor in chief. “During these troubling, uncertain times, we are more motivated than ever to pursue stories that otherwise wouldn’t be told and to amplify the voices of people impacted by decisions made in the Statehouse.”

Based in Topeka, the Kansas Reflector’s coverage will extend across the state with topics that include health, agriculture, business, civil rights, education and immigration. The outlet’s website also will feature a podcast, interactive graphics, photos and video. Newspapers, broadcasters and other news outlets are welcome to republish Kansas Reflector content.

Kansas Reflector is one of a growing number of nonpartisan state capital news outlets under the umbrella of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit funded by tax-free donations.

The Kansas Reflector is staffed by professional journalists with experience in Kansas reporting:

Smith, editor in chief, spent 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal, where he started on the copy desk, then oversaw digital operations, was the managing editor and reported from the Statehouse. A lifelong Kansan, he graduated from Emporia State University in 2004 as a Shepherd Scholar with a degree in English.

C.J. Janovy, opinion editor, is a veteran journalist with deep roots in the Midwest. She was an editor and reporter at Kansas City’s NPR affiliate, KCUR. Before that, she edited the city’s alt-weekly newspaper, The Pitch, where Janovy and her writers won numerous local, regional and national awards.

Tim Carpenter, senior reporter, has written about Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International. He has been recognized numerous times for investigative reporting on Kansas government and politics. He earned an agriculture degree at Kansas State University and grew up on a small dairy and beef cattle farm in Missouri.

Noah Taborda, reporter, started his journalism career in public radio at KBIA in Columbia, Mo., covering local government and producing a podcast while earning his bachelor’s degree in radio broadcasting at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Noah then made a short move to Kansas City, Missouri, to work at KCUR as an intern on the talk show Central Standard and then in the newsroom, reporting on daily news and feature stories.

Readers can sign up for Read and Reflect, an email newsletter, to get the latest news and commentary from Kansas and relevant news out of Washington, D.C., delivered to their inbox every morning.