I’m an independent journalist based in San Francisco who explores different facets of inequality. I tell narrative stories about how systems impact marginalized communities, and I’m especially interested in how social determinants of health affect people’s psychology, economic mobility and life outcomes. I write nuanced, complex pieces that put people’s stories in the context of broader trends and social policy. I strive to be a trauma-informed interviewer, and delight in stories about solutions.

I typically cover the intersection of housing, economic hardship, healthcare and disability. My work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, the San Francisco Chronicle and California Health Report, among others.

I’m also a contributor to Nieman Storyboard and a research editor for Air Mail, where I oversee a monthly vertical. In addition, I work as a writing coach and developmental editor, helping to enhance writers’ voice on the page. Formerly, I was a reporter for Ozy.

My work has been supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, the Fuller Project, the Journalists in Aging Fellows program and the Age Boom Academy through Columbia University. I’ve won nine San Francisco Press Club Awards and my work was part of a package recognized in the 2022 California Journalism Awards. I’m a member of The Writers Grotto in San Francisco, Ida B. Wells Society, SPJ NorCal, Study Hall, The Writers’ Co-op and Solutions Journalism Network. I have taught a series of career development workshops on the business of freelancing at Duke University, my alma mater.

I’m an avid long distance runner, skier, lover of the outdoors, road trip enthusiast, fangirl of the California coastline and visual artist, with an emphasis on portraiture and landscape painting.

What’s it like to work with me? A few words from colleagues:

“Carly is a thoughtful reporter who frames and tells her stories with compassion and meticulous care. Working with her on her feature about U.S. caregiving both improved her smart piece and was (genuinely) a joy.” –Ryan Bacic, digital editor at The Washington Post

“There are good reporters — and then there are those who are so good they'll restore your faith in the future of our profession. Carly is among the very rare breed of journalists in that second category who are amazing at their work yet are constantly looking to further improve their craft. A delightful writer and dogged reporter who will diligently fact-check every sentence in her piece (and then crosscheck once more), Carly is an editor's dream. She's passionate about her stories and sensitive about the characters in them. She goes above and beyond in nailing nuances without sacrificing the big picture she's trying to communicate.” —Charu Sudan Kasturi, editor and former Ozy colleague