PHILLIP PANTUSO
The River Newsroom
Is Inpatient Behavioral Health Care Gone for Good in Ulster County?
An investigation into whether Westchester Medical used the pandemic as an excuse to get rid of inpatient psych and detox in Kingston. September 2020 (Awarded Best Digital News Project, 750,000 monthly visitors or less, by the Local Media Association)
Dutchess County Sheriff's Deputy Under Investigation for Social Media Posts
An investigation into racist online activity by the president of the local PBA—which led to the officer's suspension. March 2021
'Stop and Frisk' Finds Few Guns, Many Critics in Kingston
A joint law enforcement campaign made over 1,300 stops, but nabbed only five firearms. January 2021
A deep dive into why New York State didn't end marijuana prohibition in 2019. July 2019
The State of Sex Ed in New York
What should sex education look like in the era of #MeToo? August 2019
My author page for The River Newsroom is here.
The Guardian
The family whose Black Lives Matter sign shook their conservative town
In the tiny Catskills community of White Sulphur Springs, there are a couple dozen Trump signs—and one house with Biden and Black Lives Matter signs. But even though everyone knows each other, there isn’t much dialogue. September 2020
Perhaps the best dinosaur fossil ever discovered. So why has hardly anyone seen it?
Two feuding families, a Montana rancher called the Dino Cowboy, and one of the most exciting paleontological finds of the century. July 2019, recognized by Longform.org
The New York Times
A profile of the Renaissance Street Singers, an atheist choir that performs in the streets of New York. April 2013
Bringing Bebop Back Home
At Bill's Place, a jazz speakeasy in Harlem. November 2014
A Place That Plucks Heartstrings
Visiting a West Village guitar salon, in the footsteps of Paul Simon. February 2014
Yes! Magazine
Green burial goes beyond not polluting. It's about people needing and caring for land, conducting life-affirming activities there—including death. September 2019, cover
The Unique Arts Festival Where Performers Play for Their Health Care
Reporting on O+ Festival in upstate NY, which establishes a radical community-betterment exchange. November 2018
Other selected features...
The Siren Song of the Mighty Towa Towa
On empire, nostalgia, transnational economies, finch singing competitions, and the Caribbean. Roads & Kingdoms, May 2017
Visiting an Experimental, Do-It-Yourself Library in Brooklyn
At the Sorted Library, a library/art project about archiving, memory, collections, and discovery. Literary Hub, July 2018
How a 27-Year-Old College Dropout Is Simplifying Health Care
A profile of an innovative digital health care company. Fortune, October 2016
Street Fight
In and amongst the community-led redevelopment efforts of Brownsville, Brooklyn. BKLYNR, August 2013
What's Behind the Texas Breakfast Taco Wars
On gentrification and food politics in Austin. Extra Crispy, June 2016
Can Starbucks Make It In Italy?
An historical look at Italian coffee culture, or: the grande caramel macchiato comes to Milan. Extra Crispy, August 2016
MM&M
Healthcare marketers have finally acknowledged the importance of reaching caregivers. May 2021
Inside health-tech's efforts to spur better recruitment for clinical trials. May 2020
Best Behavior
Two behavioral marketing campaigns illustrate the challenges of resonating with patients. March 2020
Facebook's reputation as a responsible steward of personal data took a hit with the Cambridge Analytica scandal. How are its patient communities responding? September 2018
Brooklyn Magazine
Voices Carry
Out in Sunset Park with the copwatch group El Grito. September 2015
Letting Go
A cover profile of Noah Baumbach, on the occasion of While We're Young. March 2015, cover
Strange Ways: The Long Journey of Howard Fishman
In Brooklyn and Helsinki with the itinerant folk musician. September 2015