Allison Erickson, from San Antonio, joins the Tribune for a six-month fellowship through a new partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism.
Erickson served as a Medical Service Corps officer in the U.S. Army from 2011 to 2018, rising to the rank of captain and completing a combat deployment to Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and an Army Commendation Medal.
Erickson’s journalism career began before she became a soldier when she studied editorial journalism at Texas Christian University. She wrote for the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Texas Monthly and The Point. During her transition back to civilian life, she earned a master’s degree in creative publishing and critical journalism from The New School in New York. She has since worked freelance assignments in print and digital news and produced podcast reporting on migration, politics and health.
“Texas Tribune packs a reputable punch in the nonprofit news sector,” Erickson said. “I couldn’t be happier to develop my journalism skills and contribute to the excellent reporting from the team. I see the work of journalism as yet another call to service, and there is no better team or publication I would like to learn from and lend my voice to at this time. I look forward to reporting military and veteran stories in my home state.”
Erickson is an alumna of the MVJ mentorship program, where she worked with investigative journalist and UNC Hussman School of Journalism Assistant Professor Erin Siegal McIntyre.
Through the Tribune-MVJ partnership, she will provide much-needed context and perspective in covering military and veteran affairs in a state with massive military installations and a large veteran population.
“The Texas Tribune is a trailblazer in the news business,” said MVJ President Russell Midori. “As much as they’re masters of the old craft, they also have the courage to innovate.
“Our team at MVJ is honored to partner with the Tribune as they expand their beat coverage to better serve veterans, service members and their families, and boy did they pick a great member of the MVJ community to help them do it,” Midori said. “Allison is a gifted writer bursting with curiosity and persistence.”
Erickson won the position over a highly competitive field of journalists from the MVJ community through a selection process that took nearly six months.
“I’m thrilled to be a supporter and now a partner of Military Veterans in Journalism, which has helped hundreds of former service members to pursue another form of public service — journalism in support of democracy,” said Sewell Chan, editor in chief at the Tribune. “The discipline, teamwork and sense of mission that are instilled in service members are also incredibly valuable traits for newsrooms.”
Erickson, who will work primarily out of the Tribune’s Austin-based headquarters, will begin her fellowship Aug. 15.
About Military Veterans in Journalism
Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets. Learn more at www.mvj.network.
###
