Sarah Mansur is an award-winning statehouse reporter for Capitol News Illinois specializing in education policy, public health mandates, and legislative processes. With a career spanning legal journalism and political reporting, she brings unique insight into how laws transform from proposals to implemented policies.
"Effective pitches demonstrate clear understanding of how state policies impact local communities differently across urban/rural divides."
Recent recognitions include a 2023 Peter Lisagor Award nomination for investigative work on cannabis tax distributions. Her reporting continues to inform debates about equitable policy implementation across Illinois.
Sarah Mansur has established herself as a meticulous reporter focusing on legislative processes, education policy, and public health interventions. Her work at Capitol News Illinois and other outlets demonstrates a commitment to translating complex policy decisions into accessible public information.
This May 2021 analysis dissected Governor J.B. Pritzker's executive order aligning Illinois with updated CDC guidelines. Mansur contextualized the policy shift within broader debates about pandemic governance, interviewing epidemiologists and business owners. The piece became essential reading for municipal planners adjusting local health protocols.
Mansur's March 2025 investigation revealed how rural districts like Cairo Unit School District #1 coped with 40% vacancy rates. Through FOIA requests and union interviews, she documented the correlation between funding cuts and credential program enrollment declines. The article spurred legislative hearings on teacher retention tax credits.
This April 2021 procedural analysis exposed partisan delays in addressing unemployment system reforms. Mansur's minute-by-minute committee hearing reconstruction showed how parliamentary maneuvers stalled bipartisan proposals, earning recognition from the Illinois Press Association.
Mansur prioritizes how legislation affects constituents rather than political theater. Successful pitches highlight measurable outcomes, like her analysis of mask mandate compliance rates in suburban vs. rural counties [1]. Provide access to school administrators implementing new curricula rather than political spokespeople.
Her teacher shortage piece [2] demonstrates preference for multi-year datasets showing policy impacts. Pitch stories comparing pre/post-pandemic funding allocations with student achievement metrics, particularly in STEM fields.
Mansur consistently amplifies stories from downstate Illinois often overlooked by Chicago-centric media. Recent work on rural hospital closures [3] exemplifies this focus. Pitch case studies from counties with populations under 50,000 experiencing unique policy challenges.
"Mansur's reporting turns bureaucratic processes into human stories without sacrificing factual rigor." - Illinois Associated Press Media Editors, 2023
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Law, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
