West Virginia native Erin Beck is taking over the position of Public Health Reporter for Mountain State Spotlight. She moved to this role effective Jan. 1, and was previously the organization’s Community Watchdog Reporter.
Erin has more than a decade of journalism experience. Her work has appeared in the Charleston Gazette, Charleston Gazette-Mail, the Register-Herald of Beckley and several other West Virginia publications.
“We are thrilled to have Erin take on this challenge,” said Managing Editor Mary Kay McFarland. “Her consistently excellent reporting on the issues that affect our state’s most vulnerable residents and her background in public health make her a natural fit for this position.”
Erin grew up in Doddridge and Ritchie counties. After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public health at West Virginia University, she went on to work in domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and provide support services for survivors.
Erin has covered health challenges, including the overdose crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, institutionalization of people with disabilities and inequitable access to health care among marginalized populations. Her work has received multiple West Virginia Press Association awards, and she completed a year-long Association of Health Care Journalists fellowship.
Reach out to Erin with public health story tips at erinbeck@mountainstatespotlight.org.