Ottavia Spaggiari, the Knight Chair in Inclusive Journalism, in FAMU's School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, has received two of the nation's most respected honors for investigative and public-interest reporting, for her reporting that exposed the failures of a little-known housing system serving some of Texas' most vulnerable residents. Spaggiari's work underscores FAMU's growing influence in preparing the next generation of reporters.
Spaggiari's investigation, "Nowhere to Go: Inside the Texas Boarding Home System Where Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Are Widespread," received the 2026 Donald Robinson Memorial Award for Investigative Journalism from the American Society of Journalists and Authors, one of the organization's highest distinctions recognizing reporting that serves the public interest.
The investigation, published by In These Times in collaboration with Type Investigations and later republished by the Texas Observer, examined systemic shortcomings within Texas' largely unregulated boarding home system, documenting how gaps in oversight left residents vulnerable to neglect, abuse and financial exploitation.
"In this vacuum of care, boarding homes can fill a crucial gap," Spaggiari wrote. "But experts say patchwork regulations and lack of oversight also make residents susceptible to isolation, neglect, abuse and financial exploitation."
The reporting also earned second place in the 2026 John Bartlow Martin Awards, presented by Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. The awards are widely regarded among the nation's premier recognitions for magazine journalism that illuminates overlooked communities and social inequities.
The honors reinforce FAMU's longstanding emphasis on journalism that combines rigorous reporting with a commitment to public service. While many journalism schools increasingly emphasize multimedia skills and digital innovation, Spaggiari's work demonstrates that deeply reported investigative journalism remains central to the profession and to the university's educational mission.
Since joining FAMU as Knight Chair in Inclusive Journalism, earlier this year from Columbia University in NYC, Spaggiari has encouraged students to pursue stories that extend beyond conventional news agendas, particularly those involving communities that have historically received limited or incomplete coverage.
Her latest investigation reflects that philosophy, focusing attention on residents whose experiences often remain invisible despite living within systems intended to provide care.
Spaggiari has often summarized her approach with a simple guiding principle: "Wherever there is a human being, there's always a good story to tell."
That philosophy has shaped both her classroom instruction and her reporting career, where she continues to collaborate with national news organizations while mentoring aspiring FAMU journalists.
The dual honors arrive as journalism schools across the country grapple with how best to prepare students for an evolving media landscape. At FAMU, faculty members like Spaggiari increasingly embody a model in which educators remain active practitioners, bringing current investigative experience into the classroom while demonstrating that impactful journalism can still influence public understanding and accountability.
Spaggiari's national recognition serves as more than an individual achievement. It offers a tangible example of the kind of journalism the profession continues to value: reporting that uncovers hidden systems, amplifies marginalized voices and holds institutions accountable, work that remains at the heart of journalism's public mission.