Appointment of Economic Development Reporter to Enhance SDG-Focused Journalism

Introduction

St. Louis Public Radio (STLPR) has appointed Kavahn Mansouri to the position of Economic Development Reporter. In this new capacity, Mansouri will focus on regional economic expansion and job growth, aligning his reportage with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Professional Background and Investigative Expertise

Mansouri transitions from the Midwest Newsroom, where he served as an investigative reporter. His previous work demonstrates a commitment to uncovering systemic issues, a practice that supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). His notable collaborations with STLPR include:

• An investigation into the Hazelwood School District’s student housing audits, highlighting issues related to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Coverage of the community response to the ICE detention and subsequent release of Carol Mayorga, touching upon themes of justice and institutional accountability relevant to SDG 16.

Management at STLPR has expressed confidence that Mansouri’s investigative skillset will be crucial for holding public officials accountable and providing deeper analysis of the region’s economic challenges.

Core Reporting Areas Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

Focus on Inclusive Growth and Inequality

Mansouri’s stated objective is to analyze the outcomes of economic policies on the St. Louis population, directly addressing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). He aims to investigate the systemic factors influencing the region and report on how decisions made by leadership impact residents, with a particular focus on equitable outcomes.

Emphasis on Housing and Community Resilience

A primary area of interest for Mansouri is regional housing investment, a critical component of SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). His reporting will prioritize:

1. The systemic effects of economic decisions on residents, particularly vulnerable populations.
2. The state of regional housing, especially in the context of post-disaster recovery following the May tornado.
3. The human-centric stories of individuals experiencing housing insecurity, which is fundamental to achieving sustainable community development.

This focus is intended to provide critical insights into the foundations of economic stability and social equity within the St. Louis region, contributing to a more informed public discourse on sustainable urban development.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article mentions reporter Kavahn Mansouri’s previous work on an “investigation of the Hazelwood School District’s aggressive audits of student housing.” This issue directly connects to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, as housing instability or audits can be a barrier to school access for children.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• This is a central theme of the article. Mansouri’s new role is explicitly “Economic Development Reporter,” tasked with covering “efforts by local governments, universities and business leaders to expand the region’s economy and spur job growth.” This aligns directly with the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and productive employment.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article highlights Mansouri’s intent to “look deeply at the sort of systematic things that happen in our city, our region, and look at how it impacts the people who live here, and who wins and who loses.” This focus on the distributional effects of economic decisions and telling the “stories of the people who are struggling under decisions that are made by the people at the top” is directly related to reducing inequalities within and among countries.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Mansouri expresses a particular interest in “how the region is investing in housing, especially in the aftermath of the May tornado.” He emphasizes the importance of housing as a “core part of life” and plans to cover stories of “people who are living without housing” and “struggling to keep their housing.” This directly addresses the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, with a focus on adequate housing and disaster recovery.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article states that Mansouri’s “investigative background will allow us to hold public officials accountable.” This commitment to accountability is a core component of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions. His past work covering “community backlash following the ICE detention of Missouri mother Carol Mayorga” also touches upon issues of justice and institutional practices.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education. The investigation into student housing audits relates to this target by examining potential barriers that prevent equitable access to education.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The reporter’s beat, which covers efforts to “expand the region’s economy and spur job growth,” directly involves examining the policies and actions related to this target.
• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men. The focus on job growth is a direct link to this target.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. Mansouri’s goal to investigate “who wins and who loses” and tell the stories of those “struggling under decisions that are made by the people at the top” aligns with assessing progress toward this target.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services. The reporter’s specific interest in covering “people who are living without housing, people who are struggling to keep their housing” directly relates to this target.
• Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. The mention of investigating housing investment “in the aftermath of the May tornado” connects to this target concerning disaster recovery and resilience.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The stated purpose of using the reporter’s investigative background to “hold public officials accountable” is a direct reflection of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Implied Indicator: The number or rate of students facing enrollment challenges or disenrollment due to housing audits. The article’s mention of “aggressive audits of student housing” implies that the outcomes of these audits are a measurable factor in educational access.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Implied Indicator: Regional job growth rates and unemployment statistics. The reporter’s mandate to cover efforts to “spur job growth” implies that these metrics will be central to his reporting.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Implied Indicator: Disparities in economic outcomes (e.g., income, wealth, housing security) across different demographic or geographic groups within the St. Louis region. The focus on “who wins and who loses” suggests an analysis of these disparities.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Implied Indicators: The rate of homelessness or housing insecurity (“people who are living without housing, people who are struggling to keep their housing”). Another indicator is the level of public and private investment in housing, particularly for recovery efforts “in the aftermath of the May tornado.”

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Implied Indicator: While not a quantitative metric, the number and impact of investigative reports on the actions of public officials can serve as a qualitative indicator of progress toward accountability. The article frames the reporter’s work as a mechanism to “hold public officials accountable,” making the journalistic output itself an indicator of this process.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: stlpr.org