Wilson Criscione, an investigative reporter whose work has spurred reform and policy change, has been named InvestigateWest’s news and investigations editor. Criscione will start in the position March 1, 2023.

Wilson Criscione


Since joining InvestigateWest a year ago, Criscione’s reporting has exposed gaps in services for students with disabilities, sparked lawmakers to propose a law strengthening protection for sexual abuse victims, and powerfully illuminated the difficult choices facing people experiencing homelessness.

“We’re thrilled Wilson is taking on this new leadership role,” Executive Director Jacob Fries said. “He’s a dogged reporter, a masterful storyteller and a wonderful colleague. We’re grateful he’s going to be shepherding InvestigateWest’s ambitious reporting projects.”

Previously, Criscione was a staff writer at Spokane-based alt-weekly The Inlander before ascending to the role of news editor. There, he oversaw in-depth accountability journalism and produced stories that led to criminal justice and mental health reform.

As a Washington native, Criscione has reported for The Spokesman-Review and The Bellingham Herald. His work has appeared in The Guardian, The Seattle Times and other publications across the country. He’s won awards for his education and homelessness coverage and for his use of public records that exposed wrongdoing of public officials.

He currently lives in Spokane, where he looks forward to building on InvestigateWest’s history of impactful journalism for the Pacific Northwest.

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