Claire Rafford
@clairerafford
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higher ed reporter @mirrorindy // @opencampusmedia & part-time pet sitter. RTs ≠ endorsements. beep me: claire.rafford @mirrorindy .org
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Joined August 2018
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Pinned Tweet
‼️calling all
@IUPUI
alumni, students, faculty, etc!
I am working on a project about IUPUI's history for
@mirrorindy
and I want to hear from y'all.
Did you meet your partner or bestie at IUPUI? Was there a class that changed your life? Let us know:
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personal news check — Friday was my last day
@indystar
. in a few weeks, I’ll join
@mirrorindy
to cover higher ed 🤓
I’ve loved my last 2 years @ the Star, esp the time I spent on the biz/development beat. to everyone who answered my calls/txts/emails, I can’t thank you enough :)
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my grandma has been emailing me about my articles lately and it makes up for every unkind message I’ve ever gotten as a reporter 🥹❤️
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heya! it's my first day
@mirrorindy
covering higher ed. excited to dive into issues affecting Indianapolis students. what do y'all wanna see covered? hit me up @ my new email - claire.rafford
@mirrorindy
.org & please add me to your email lists while you're at it!
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as of today, I've been a full-time reporter
@indystar
for one year!
It's been a year full of joy & also hard days, but growth all the same. I'm grateful to my wonderful colleagues (past+present) & to everyone who's told me their story! excited to keep covering Indy in year 2❣️
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This is the last story you'll see my byline on for a while.
Why? I'm withholding bylines from my work, along with many of my IndyStar colleagues, until we see significant movement in bargaining our 2+ yr expired contract.
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two days late (typical) but this week marked my 2-year anniversary of full-time journalism in Indy (my first day at IndyStar was Valentine's Day💌)
Things have changed (like my employer & job title) but I'm still in awe I get to be professionally nosy and tell Indy's stories:)
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Indy's experiencing a local bookstore renaissance of sorts - 9 local stores have opened since 2021.
It coincides with - and is partially driven by - increased efforts to censor/ban books in Indiana. I spoke with biz owners across the city:
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But I’m excited about what’s next: I’m headed back to Indianapolis to be a trending news reporter for
@indystar
! I can’t wait to return to a city and paper I love deeply. My first day is Feb. 14.(❤️) In the meantime, DMs are open for news tips/tips for driving in the snow!
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Some news from me! Last Friday was my last day interning
@politico
. I’m so grateful for the experience, especially for the opportunity to work with and learn from my wonderful & talented colleagues & editors! (1/2)
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.
@mirrorindy
is LIVE! very excited about what we've got goin on (and not just bc the site design is funky fresh)
🧵wanted to share some of the work out today, starting out with this impt look at homelessness in Indy by
@Ty_Fenwick
&
@indyemapolis
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Not a super uplifting story, but here is my first byline for
@azcentral
! I’ll be working on the breaking news desk all summer, so stay tuned.
The man was hit by a car while in the crosswalk of Union Hills Drive and 43rd Avenue around 7:58 p.m., a police spokesman said.
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scene (hehe) on all three campuses today!! tri-campus community = tri-campus responsibility
@ObserverScene
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In today's Inside Column, Assistant Managing Editor
@clairerafford
discusses how the new North Lodge has rendered the quad's diagonal unusable, and what this means for North Quad residents.
@ObserverViewpnt
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Nothing like very belated *professional news tweet!* I wrapped up my Pulliam fellowship
@indystar
a little over two weeks ago. From snow plows to tax credits to the Bachelor, I loved reporting on and around Indianapolis!
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if you’ve ever stepped foot into south dining hall — especially the basement — you do not need to worry about what is in the vaccine
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Agreed, but nearly any Gannett journalist will tell you we have no control over the print edition.
I'm glad to see more news in Indy (from friends!) but
@indystar
journalists -
@kolyn_cheang
,
@CarloniBrittany
&
@John_Tuohy
- covered the hell out of yesterday's primary online
Further demonstrating the need for good local politics/government coverage (and, ideally, local ownership of your newspaper of record). Indiana’s lucky to get new reporting investments in
@INCapChronicle
@StateAffairsIN
@ChalkbeatIN
@axios
etc.
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“We are — revolutionary!” Protesters take a seat near Washington & 15th in Phoenix.
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niche audience but this is pretty much the Super Bowl for Indy development reporters
BREAKING: Bottleworks developer Hendricks is finalizing a pair of agreements that would see it take over Indy’s Circle Centre Mall and plot a $600 million revamp of the property, with the $100 million first phase set to finish by 2028. Read on
@IBJnews
:
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proud to say i began my last semester of college the same i way i started my first — getting lost, almost being late for class and arriving extremely sweaty
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My feature on
@Through2Eyes
&
@Sampson_2
is on A1 today!! Happy Saturday :)
(also, hi👋
@DomenicaReports
!)
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no more "tweet drafts." only tweets (from the vault) (claire's version)
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all gen z does is drink iced coffee, listen to the glee cast versions of popular songs, cover their belongings in redbubble stickers and cry
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Almost sent an email that didn't include an exclamation point but added one at the last minute. Phew, that was a close one
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It’s my first day as
@indystar
’s trending reporter! You can send love notes 💌 (story ideas and coffee shop recs) to crafford
@gannett
.com
But I’m excited about what’s next: I’m headed back to Indianapolis to be a trending news reporter for
@indystar
! I can’t wait to return to a city and paper I love deeply. My first day is Feb. 14.(❤️) In the meantime, DMs are open for news tips/tips for driving in the snow!
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My story about Indiana TikTokers is in today’s print edition of
@indystar
! This graphic is so cool🔥
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Thinking of everyone, including myself, refreshing their emails today waiting for the Indy Taylor Swift presale codes
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I filled out the FAFSA for journalism and … it was something!
subscribe to
@mirrorindy
newsletter for fun updates such as these
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unprecedented times called for an unprecedented editorial
Pick up Friday’s special edition of The Observer.
Read it here:
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back to back assignments at
@uindy
&
@IUPUI
today!!
1) got to meet the one and only
@uindyhound
2) went to IUPUI’s engineering tech building for a very fun 🏎️story coming soon!! and saw some
@LifeAtPurdue
signs 👀
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Are y'all ever just trying to do your jobs when your company announces, well, this?
Yeah, same. thankful for
@indynewsguild
today & every day. but this is bad news.
Gannett just announced they are:
• offering buyouts
• killing the 401(k) match
• mandating a 5-day furlough during the holidays
• at mgmt. discretion, instituting a 30-32 hrs/week schedule -- a 15% pay cut.
UNIONIZE YOUR NEWSROOM. UNIONIZE GANNETT.
#AnswerUsGannett
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News check! Today was my first day as a Pulliam fellow
@indystar
. I’ll be doing trending and utility service reporting, and I’m really excited to get started and get to know Indy!
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Next week, I'll be starting as an intern covering breaking news
@politico
. I'm super excited get started!
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every day i wake up and drink my silly little coffee and check the silly little electoral college map
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Just discovered I filed a story without a single em-dash — we can't have that
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there's nothing like tearing up while sticking a swab up your nose in the joyce center at 4:04 p.m. on a friday while dynamite by BTS plays over the loudspeaker
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the grind never stops! especially not in my sleep — that’s why i have to wear a night guard
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Yesterday was my last day interning
@azcentral
. Thank you to everyone, but especially
@chris_coppola
&
@mikecnews
for helping me learn so much both about reporting and about my home state! I’m sad to leave, but thankful for everything I learned.
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only “men” i’ll simp for on main is the first aMENdment!!
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“Rapid antigen tests are not fully accurate ... as many as 50% of rapid tests can produce a false negative result for COVID-19.”
University President Fr. John Jenkins issued a statement regarding his failure to wear a mask or social distance at the Rose Garden on Saturday.
“I failed to lead by example at a time when I’ve asked everyone else in the Notre Dame community to do so.”
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Some of my favorite books I've read this year won
@INAuthorsAwards
- "You Should See Me in a Crown
@byleahjohnson
& "Somebody's Daughter" by
@iSmashFizzle
- and many others I'm excited to request from the library!
Read more about the winners
@indystar
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a fun reminder that The Observer has been covering Barrett’s career since 2017, when she was first confirmed as a federal judge. if you're looking for some background info, this report is the perfect place to start
President Trump nominated ND law professor Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court Saturday, calling her qualifications “unsurpassed.”
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I only want one thing in life: for my computer to work no matter how many tabs I have open
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oh hey! new tagline alert!
are you an Indy college student, administrator or faculty member? I would love to hear your thoughts on higher ed in the city. 🙋🏻♀️👀
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me trying to do my job when yet more Gannett layoff news comes through 🤪
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i was so focused on the global pandemic, etc. that i forgot about my ongoing feud w my mortal enemy, eduroam
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I’m back at the IUPUI liberated zone this afternoon. The encampment has grown significantly over the last few days — organizers say there are at least 25-30 people camping out here nightly now
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i was today years old when i figured out that Netflix is called "Netflix" because it offers movies (flicks) on the (Inter)net
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For
@mirrorindy
! I want to more deeply understand the impact of student loan repayment locally.
I'm looking to chat with ppl who are repaying student loans from any Indy college/university but didn't finish that degree. DMs open, email in bio! TIA:)
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Oh she did this for the English majors
All’s fair in love and poetry... New album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. Out April 19 🤍
📷: Beth Garrabrant
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Sorry to be a corny journalist but I just love getting to learn about professors/students' research and passion projects. Easily one of my favorite parts of my job
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my mom has remarked multiple times over the past few days that she's "fascinated by my college study routine," which really means she's horrified at how much i procrastinate
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I’m in downtown Phoenix covering the 13th night of protests against police brutality following the deaths of George Floyd and Dion Johnson. Follow me and
@Audreyj101
for updates!
@azcentral
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yearly reminder to all those discouraged by the fun haters that I DO want to see your Spotify Wrapped! keep 'em coming!
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I’m in downtown Chandler reporting for
@azcentral
, where contestants are already lining up for an open casting call for
@BachelorABC
. Follow for updates!
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my "stress relief" tea isn't working. time to drink more
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When I started covering housing almost a year ago, almost everyone I talked to mentioned corporate investors as a challenge to the Indianapolis real estate market.
I wanted to find out more, and luckily,
@kolyn_cheang
did too. 🧵:
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For
@mirrorindy
! I want to more deeply understand the impact of student loan repayment locally.
I'm looking to chat with ppl who are repaying student loans from any Indy college/university but didn't finish that degree. DMs open, email in bio! TIA:)
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Help! I'm a victim of U.T.W.U.I.H.A.M.T.O!
(unable to write unless I have a million tabs open)
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i have a joke about journalists but is it okay if i record this
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👋👋👋
If you're a
@politico
on the Hill today, please say hi to super-intern
@clairerafford
, who's been thrown into the fire on this VERY busy day!
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solidarity is delicious ✊❤️
byline withdrawal week 2 (shoutout to
@CarloniBrittany
for the cookies)
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we're still feuding
i was so focused on the global pandemic, etc. that i forgot about my ongoing feud w my mortal enemy, eduroam
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it’s just me & my jar of peanut butter against the world
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“These people just aren't somebody underneath the ground with a headstone on top. They lived lives.”
For the last few months, I've been spending time with Marty and Tom Davis, who've been telling Crown Hill Cemetery's stories for decades.
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More than 100 city employees will help staff the federal COVID-19 surge testing sites in west and south Phoenix for the next two weeks. via
@azcentral
@jboehm_NEWS
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just signed up for my first dose
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The room is absolutely packed for today's public hearing on the rezoning/proposed redevelopment of 200 acres at 86th Street/I-465.
The Pike Township Resident's Association will officially oppose the project @ this meeting. More on why neighbors oppose:
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I apologize for the person I'm going to become when I can listen to the 10-minute version of "All Too Well"
The next album that I’ll be releasing is my version of Red, which will be out on November 19. This will be the first time you hear all 30 songs that were meant to go on Red. And hey, one of them is even ten minutes long🧣
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The matriarchy continues! So honored to work alongside
@mleontaras
,
@mariahfrush
,
@FilbinMaeve
&
@sarajschlecht
as assistant managing editor for
@NDSMCObserver
next term.
(Little Women Buzzfeed quiz results to come)
Recently elected Editor-in-Chief Maria Leontaras announces the Observer's Editorial Board for the next term.
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getting burned by my seatbelt makes me feel alive
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Really great reporting from
@CarolineB_Indy
, diving into the forces behind charter schools, why they close and who those closures affect.
you should read bc it’s important local journalism, but also if you’re a fan of
@AbbottElemABC
:)
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poetic injustice is walking into the wrong classroom on my last day of college classes, ever
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decorate a lamppost today!
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I spent some time in a college classroom yesterday for the first time since 2021 and it reminded me how much I wish I could go to school forever.
I’d love to make a habit of regularly checking out college/continuing ed classes. DMs are open for suggestions :)
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The new FAFSA is live, and for the first time, Indiana high school seniors are required to fill it out.
ICYMI, I wrote about what to know about the changes for
@mirrorindy
here:
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i ain’t ever had a normal spotify wrapped — it’s always half of it gotta be unhinged
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it’s always a great day to work for
@ndsmcobserver
, but today has been nothing short of incredible. while i wish our editorial hadn’t been inspired by such dire circumstances on our three campuses, i’m so proud of everyone who was involved in making it happen. (1/2)
"Don't make us write obituaries"
The front page of The Observer, the student newspaper covering the University of Notre Dame and neighboring Saint Mary's College and Holy Cross College, highlights a plea to the community during the coronavirus pandemic.
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*kinda* emo tweet - working at a rosati's (tempe location) was my first job. i worked there for three years and it taught me more about compassion and life than almost anything else. this is a beautiful tribute to the man who started it all
Rick Rosati, co-founder of Rosati's Pizza, died at age 70 in Arizona. He helped bring his family's chain Chicago-style pizza restaurants to the West.
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one direction and taylor swift on the same day is like in high school musical when they had to figure out how to do the decathalon, the callbacks and the basketball game all at once
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Mark Small, the GOP nominee for Indiana House District 86, is speaking in favor of abortion rights.
“The next election is the most important. It could be the last. And we will win.”
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i thought i couldn't possibly revert back to my middle/high school self any more in quarantine but one direction and taylor swift on the same DAY? i might as well stop plucking my eyebrows and start stressing about the SATs
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I spoke with
@FanchonStinger
about her decades in journalism, including nearly 12 years in Indy, how her faith has gotten her through the toughest of stories & next steps.
Read more here:
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me processing all the pop culture news yesterday, today and tomorrow
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