Esther Schrader Email & Phone Number

As a writer with the Southern Poverty Law Center's Editorial Team, I produce feature and news stories that amplify the work of the venerated legal organization, its partners and its clients. My deeply reported stories on civil rights, social justice, Black history, and legal battles championed by the SPLC typically headline the website, driving page views and influencing media coverage. My work is regularly highlighted by the SPLC in its fundraising and directly distributed to its more than 600,000 donors. A series of stories I produced for the SPLC on threats to the historically Black community of Eatonville, Florida won a 2024 Webby Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. The same piece won a Gold Anthem Award. The award, announced January 30, 2024, is the highest honor bestowed in its category. Earlier, the piece won third place at the 2023 Salute to Excellence Awards of the National Association of Black Journalists. Work samples available here and at splcenter.org

Washington D.C. Metro Area

I write and edit a broad variety of content for the World Bank, Natural Resources Defense Council, NORC at the University of Chicago, USAID, National Academy of Pediatrics, Banyan Global, World Resources Institute, and other nonprofits and private firms. Work includes speeches, opinion pieces, features, press releases, policy statements, grant proposals, annual reports, and promotional materials. Previous clients include Pacific Bridge Medical, Inc., Rainforest International, and Internews. In addition to samples featured here, complete selection of my current work available upon request.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

As an associate with this boutique editorial consultancy specializing in international issues, I write and edit reports, brochures, newsletters, speeches and strategic and website content for the Brookings Institution, African Export-Import Bank, IMPAQ International, the United Nations Foundation and other clients. The Annual Report below is one example. Bio and further work samples available at bestwritersandeditors.com

Washington, D.C.

As a consultant with PAHO's communications team wrote and edited strategy documents in English and Spanish and composed press releases, speeches, web postings, and remarks for international meetings. Work also included translations, on-camera interviews, and media calls.

Washington, D.,C.

Covered all aspects of Pentagon policy during the most intense upheaval in military affairs in a generation. Beginning with first hand reporting on the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon, wrote on Iraq and Afghanistan war strategy, budgets, and weaponry. In depth work on overloaded military medical system, post traumatic stress disorder and toll of relentless deployments. Recognized nationally for story investigating questionable legality of drones in warfare.

Washington, D.C.

Broke stories on U.S. cross border trade, narcotics trafficking, farm labor, environmental, and immigration policy. Covered impact of North American Free Trade Agreement on industries in U.S. and Mexico and of growing narcotics trade crippling Mexican society.

Orange County Edition

As a general assignment reporter, investigated questionable business and safety practices at Disneyland and the University of Irvine Medical Center. Major stories on rise of mega-churches and transformational effects of immigration.

Mexico City, Mexico

Reporting from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean for the Mercury News and its parent media company, Knight-Ridder Newspapers, led coverage of North American Free Trade Agreement, Chiapas rebellion, narcotics trafficking, and environmental and immigration policy. Won AP Fairbanks Award for Public Service for investigation of malfeasance by U.S. charities operating in Mexico and Mexican farm laborer deaths from pesticides. Also published reprting and analysis from Mexico in the New Republic, Washington Monthly, and Mother Jones magazines.

San Jose, Ca

Led paper’s 1992 coverage of California’s twin Senate races, the historic “Year of the Women” campaigns of Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. Covered 1991 coup d'etat from Moscow on assignment and for two years covered Central California as Monterey County correspondent.

Soviet Union

Reporting from nearly every republic throughout the collapsing Soviet state, broke major stories for Los Angeles Times, New Republic, Christian Science Monitor, Newsday, and Boston Globe. Published commentary led Washington Post Outlook Section. Filed regularly for National Public Radio and appeared twice on ABC’s Nightline.

Metro Desk - Glendale Bureau

Broke story on influx of Soviet Armenian refugees to Los Angeles and developed theme into Page One series. Regular contributor to the Washington Monthly and the New Republic magazines.

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Won National Magazine Award for article on lack of patient access to medical records

Albany, New York