Nick Swartsell, WVXU
Longform Investigative ReporterExpertise: Housing, social issues, the justice system, transportation
Education: Miami University, University of Texas
Contact: nswartsell@wvxu.org
Favorite Tri-State Neighborhood: Every spot has so many great stories to tell. Especially the ones with good food.
Highlights
- A decade of experience reporting in-depth stories from Greater Cincinnati's many diverse communities
- Winner, SPJ Sigma Delta Chi award for public service journalism
- Host of the short-run podcast Crosley at the Crossroads
- Once joined colleagues at a previous job in trying dog treats for a story (verdict: just OK)
- Still can't dunk a basketball on a regulation rim but poor guy will never stop trying
Experience
Nick has reported from a nuclear waste facility in the deserts of New Mexico, the White House press pool, a canoe on the Mill Creek, and even his desk one time. Before his time at WVXU, he had bylines in The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, Vice News, the Texas Tribune, Cincinnati's CityBeat and other publications. He's always looking for an excuse to bring his camera along.
You can find him at @nswartsell on Twitter.
Education
Nick is a graduate of Miami University in Ohio and the University of Texas.
About WVXU
The central pillar of Cincinnati Public Radio’s local network — accounting for the lion’s share of its 211,000 listeners each week — 91.7 WVXU is among the most reliable media institutions in the Tri-State region. Our mission is to always be a trusted, independent source of journalism, music and culture, empowering a vibrant, engaged and informed community.
Why trust us
Our team of reporters and editors have decades of experience writing and reporting the news. Our first responsibility is to our listeners and readers. There is no connection between our funding and editorial decisions. When we do cover a funding partner, a disclosure will be mentioned on-air and online. We take pride in our work, editing and fact-checking every story. If an article warrants a correction, we will immediately correct it and explain the correction for complete transparency.
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A proposal is in the works to eventually connect much of Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties via paths and cycling infrastructure. -
The two community conversations hosted by the Urban League, the NAACP and other groups will take place June 30 in Mount Airy and July 14 in Avondale. Both go from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. -
The Ohio Innocence Project's Donald Caster will lead the unit tasked with investigating potential wrongful felony convictions in Hamilton County. -
The day commemorating the end of slavery has its roots in Texas just after the Civil War. It became a federal holiday in 2021. -
City officials say they have concerns about its methodology and conclusions, but stressed they take fairness in policing seriously. -
Supporters say the designation will help preserve the character of North Avondale as new development ramps up. Critics worry it could make property repairs more expensive. -
The high court ruled a federal law barring gun ownership for those convicted of domestic violence felonies doesn't preclude them from seeking to restore their firearm rights under Ohio law. -
New federal funding criteria for helping people without homes emphasizes mandatory treatment for addiction and mental illness over providing housing first. The head of a local service provider says that doesn't match the need his organization sees. -
The crane floated up to a staging spot on the Covington riverbank east of the Brent Spence Bridge called Pete Rose Pier. The crane will be used for preparatory work. -
The report from Housing Opportunities Made Equal found discrimination against people with disabilities in about half of the 62 rental properties the organization tested between January 2025 and March 2026.
