Kae Petrin, a data and graphics reporter at Chalkbeat, Votebeat, and Healthbeat, specializes in education and voting rights. Kae shares insights on beat-centric news organizations and the critical role of data in shaping education policies. They discuss the complexities of collecting reliable K-12 education data and the challenges posed by the decentralized U.S. system. Additionally, Kae highlights the importance of the Trans Journalists Association in improving media representation of trans issues, blending advocacy with impactful storytelling.