Nick Swartsell
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.
-
The program will test the effectiveness of drones responding to police, fire and EMS calls. -
Six Greater Cincinnati counties work with the Department of Homeland Security to house immigration detainees or assist in immigration enforcement actions. But the nature of their agreements with the federal government differs. -
GOP lawmakers have a supermajority in the Ohio General Assembly and seem unlikely to pass the raft of legislation. -
The 16-story brutalist tower built in 1969 has its share of detractors, but also a lot of fans. -
A rally outside Cincinnati City Hall and subsequent march to condemn the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies drew hundreds Friday evening. -
Residents and state lawmakers have raised questions about the jail's conditions, its capacity and the ethics of a federal contract to hold ICE detainees there. -
There are multiple events happening across the area to celebrate the famed Civil Rights leader. -
Mayor Ron Washington's speech didn't unveil much in the way of new initiatives, but did include updates on five ongoing efforts his administration will continue to pursue in 2026. -
Kean Babcock initially faced felony rioting charges for being on the Roebling Bridge during a protest against the ICE detention of Egyptian immigrant Ayman Soliman. Those were later reduced to misdemeanor charges. -
The real estate investment company allegedly abandoned roughly 70 residential properties in Cincinnati in late 2024.
