DC fails to enforce its own law, leaving wheelchair users stranded
The day before Kelly Mack’s vacation, she called the taxi company to schedule a car for the morning.
Hi, I'm Ella.
I’m a features and investigative reporter, and current recipient of the Fulbright-American University scholarship studying MA Investigative Journalism in Washington DC.
I was Editor-in-Chief of The Mancunion, the biggest student newspaper in the UK, receiving seven national and three regional awards.
I have freelanced for The Big Issue, Manchester Mill and Sheffield Tribune. You can see my reporting below.
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‘I call it the yeti': The hunt for wheelchair-accessible taxis in DC
On the afternoon we caught up with Kelly Mack, she just needed a ride to the grocery store.
"This is the part where you kind of wait and see," said Mack, watching her phone.
She’s used a wheelchair since she was 10. She moved to D.C. after college, she said, because our city was trying to be more accessible. When the News4 I-Team asked if the city was keeping its promise, she responded, "Here and there."
"This is the part where you kind of wait and see," said Mack, watching her phone.
She’s used a wheelchair since she was 10. She moved to D.C. after college, she said, because our city was trying to be more accessible. When the News4 I-Team asked if the city was keeping its promise, she responded, "Here and there."
Dueling rallies outside Supreme Court as justices hear transgender rights case
Passionate demonstrators outside the court opposed or supported a Tennessee law banning transgender health care for minors.
O’Malley’s last push for Social Security funding as waitlists grow
Customer service is at its worst point in Social Security’s 89-year history, says administration chief Martin O’Malley, in the first House SSA hearing for a decade.
DC passes Initiative 83 bringing ranked choice voting and semi-open primaries to the District
Initiative 83 has passed in D.C. with almost 73% of the vote meaning semi-open primaries and ranked voting are set to begin in 2026.
Non-citizen residents living in DC area fear election aftermath
Half of DC’s foreign-born residents are not eligible to vote in November, but they still fear the potential impacts.
Homeless shelters are full across DC and a Georgetown drop-in center is more important than ever
Colder weather means homeless people can access overnight shelter for the first time in months, but has DC planned enough beds for hypothermia season?
Backlash over bagels: Will Call Your Mother’s Georgetown store have to close?
The bagel shop’s popularity has caused “objectionable” conditions for some neighbors. A zoning meeting on Wednesday will decide Call Your Mother’s fate.
Slems is known as the weirdest university halls in Manchester. That’s exactly how the students like it
Alanna* didn't want to go to St Anselm Hall, but after her initial choices were blocked by the system, she felt lucky to have any accommodation at all.
Inside the murky £500m industry changing the shape of UK universities
The job description of an education agent is tricky to quantify because the way they operate varies widely – from individual agents to master agents and aggregators who manage thousands of sub-agents.
What on earth has happened to South Yorkshire's Angel of the North?
Imagine, if you will, the “perfect” man, one with all the qualities men are expected – rightly or not – to embody. Most likely he’s strong, chiselled, outdoorsy.
The social experiment: Our student life in the pandemic
What was it like being a university student during the pandemic? Lots of studies and MPs’ reports have tried to answer that question with graphs and data about remote learning. But what was it actually like?
Which is to say, how did it feel? What really happened inside locked-down student blocks when we weren’t allowed to go out and everything turned absurdly, toxically inward? In the first year of Covid, two of us were starting our fresher’s year at the University of Manchester and one of us w
Which is to say, how did it feel? What really happened inside locked-down student blocks when we weren’t allowed to go out and everything turned absurdly, toxically inward? In the first year of Covid, two of us were starting our fresher’s year at the University of Manchester and one of us w
The Mancunion
I led the team to win 'Best Overall Digital Media', 'Best Website', and 'Best Newspaper Design' in 2023.
I was awarded 'Best Journalist in the North 2022' and highly commended nationally for my reporting.
During my time as Editor-in-Chief of The Mancunion, the paper transitioned from a print to a multimedia outlet - interviewing Andy Burnham, running the first live-streamed SU election debates, and producing short-form video news reports with 33K views.
We covered a range of stories, from breaking the news of a £9 million cost of living pay-out to UoM students, to a cover story interview with Noel Gallagher. You can get a taste of our reporting by clicking the cover.
Creative and digital skills
I've always loved learning, from teaching myself to code at 14 to becoming a project manager at Fluid Ideas at 18. I spent six years working for a full-service marketing agency across all teams, from web to photography, socials to creative, and finally in a new digital PR role. I've continued to develop these creative and digital skills as a freelancer and at The Mancunion.
Web Design
I have designed and built WordPress sites for Thornleigh Hotel and Liversage Trust (Derby's oldest charity), increasing bookings and improving the accessibility of information. I have also worked as a freelance UX consultant giving feedback on new sites.
Social Media
At Fluid Ideas I was part of a team running over 50 accounts - creating online communities to grow them organically, as well as with paid ads. I have also created social posts for Sunday Times Food, Manchester SU, and The Mancunion, making timely reels such as Mancunion Wrapped.
Design
I am competent in Adobe InDesign, teaching 20+ students how to use the software to design our fortnightly print issue, with our final ‘Open Day edition’ being printed 20,000 times. I have also designed flyers and bookmarks to promote the Manchester Mill, Sheffield Tribune and Liverpool Post.
Training
Accessibility is very important to me and continually informs my reporting. This has driven me to create as many opportunities as possible for students aiming to break into the media, originally in Manchester and now nationwide.
SPA Training and Opportunities Officer
I supported 200 student publications nationwide in 2023-24. I organised the first Irish Regional Conference and Awards, helped Redbrick (Birmingham’s student newspaper) fundraise £3500, and launched a newsletter for 500 subscribers.
Women in Media Conference
As Head of Speakers and Scheduling (2021) - I scheduled 30 talks for 280 attendees, including interviewing Laura Kuenssberg and Beth Rigby.
Amnesty Media Awards Judge
I was invited to judge and present the Amnesty Media Student Journalism Award (2023).
The Mancunion Mentor Scheme
I set up a mentor scheme connecting 20 Mancunion alumni with current students.
Follow Me
You can download my full CV below and get in touch via Twitter or LinkedIn.