I’m C.J.
Director of Graphics & Data Visuals
The Minnesota Star Tribune
My career has taken me through nearly every corner of the newsroom — reporting, digital production, audience engagement, video and audio — before landing in data and graphics journalism, where I've spent the last several years finding award-winning visual solutions to sticky problems and explaining complex topics. I now lead a team of journalists and manage the workflows, platforms, and editorial vision that bring that work to life across every platform we publish on.
That winding path has shaped how I think about this work: not just as storytelling, but as strategy. I'm a servant leader who believes my job is to clear obstacles, equip people with what they need, and invest in their growth — and I care deeply about the systems, standards, and relationships that make great work possible.
The throughline of all of it is a stubborn belief that complex information, given the right treatment, can reach anyone.
Recent work
Editing, art direction & speaking
ELECTIONS Live Minnesota general election results 2024 ● online
ELECTIONS Minnesota’s shifting politics over 20 years online ● print
ELECTIONS How Minnesota voted, precinct by precinct online ● print
ELECTIONS Races that could decide control of the Legislature online ● print
SPORTS Every hit Joe Mauer made in his 15-year career online ● print
CLIMATE This ancient tree is one of the oldest in Minnesota. The warming climate might kill it. online ● print special section
ELECTIONS Live Minnesota presidential primary election results ● online
SPEAKING Datawrapper Unwrapped: Secret Scatterplots ● recording
SPEAKING NICAR 2024: Make data viz with (almost) every tool ● audio
Data analysis, writing & graphics
OLYMPICS Suni Lee wants beam gold. Here’s how she gets it. online ● print
NEWS Here’s where Donald Trump’s 4 criminal cases stand ● online
SPORTS Twins' Byron Buxton is younger at 30 than he was at 29 ● online
POP CULTURE Minnesotans tend to go far on ‘The Bachelor’ online ● print
Experience
The Minnesota Star Tribune
Director of Graphics & Data Visuals ● 2021 - current
Data Visuals Editor ● 2019
Digital Graphics Producer ● 2018
Digital Producer ● 2014
University of Minnesota
Adjunct Instructor ● 2014 - 2022
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Multimedia Producer ● 2012 - 2014
Bismarck Tribune
Online Producer ● 2010 - 2011