Editor & Newsroom Leader
Holding power
accountable
since 2010.
Brad Racino is the Editor-in-Chief of Floodlight, a nonprofit newsroom investigating the powerful interests stalling climate action. Over 15 years in investigative journalism, he has won two IRE medals, two Murrow Awards and earned an Emmy nomination — producing work that has driven resignations, congressional hearings and federal investigations. Before leading newsrooms, he was a reporter, photographer and videographer who believed accountability journalism demands showing your work.
Affiliations
IRE |
SPJ |
ACES |
INN |
NYCOG Board |
Copilot Center of Excellence
As an editor
As an editor at Floodlight, NY Focus, NY Cannabis Insider and inewsource, Brad has overseen investigations that drove resignations, changed policies and laws and improved quality of life for the afflicted.
Floodlight / The Guardian / Der Spiegel
Feb 2026
Thermal Drone Footage Shows Musk's AI Plant Flouting Clean Air Rules
First-of-its-kind drone imagery confirmed xAI was operating 15+ unpermitted gas turbines in Southaven, Miss. Ran on The Guardian's homepage. Millions of views.
My role
Editor-in-Chief. Oversaw reporter Evan Simon on Floodlight's most successful story. Managed partnership with The Guardian and Der Spiegel.
Impact
Went viral. A1 treatment on The Guardian homepage. Millions of Instagram views. Spawned 12-minute YouTube documentary. Photos to hang in a Paris art museum in 2027.
NY Focus
Jan 2026
FBI Wiretaps, Illegal Drugs and Dead Horses
State regulators sat on FBI evidence of a massive horse doping ring for years. We got the wiretaps.
My role
Series editor. Daily editing and rewriting with reporter Sam Mellins. Managed full fact-check cycle, legal review, photo direction.
Impact
Gaming Commission investigator resigned. Governor Hochul demanded accountability. State opened new investigation. Republished by 10+ outlets.
NY Focus
Jun 2025
The Insurance Scheme That Could Leave New Yorkers With Mountains of Debt
An investigation into Leading Edge Administrators, which became the health insurer for hundreds of thousands of home health aides through New York's CDPAP Medicaid program — leaving low-wage workers facing massive medical debt.
My role
Editor. Oversaw reporter Sam Mellins on the investigative series into Leading Edge Insurance and its impact on home health care workers.
Impact
Insurer replaced. Following the investigation, the state moved to replace Leading Edge Administrators with a new insurance manager for the state's home care workers.
NY Focus
Dec 2024
How Low Pay and Long Hours at the Assembly Hurt New York
An investigation into the New York State Assembly's declining staff budget, poverty-level wages and grueling conditions that fueled a brain drain of experienced policy staff to the better-paying Senate.
My role
Editor. Oversaw reporter Sam Mellins on the investigation into Assembly working conditions and staff pay.
Impact
Staff received raises. Assembly salaries increased by an average of over 10 percent following the investigation — the largest raises of any major Assembly office.
NY Focus
Nov 2024
Investigating the Bronx Political Machine
A multi-part investigation revealing more than $400,000 in vanished campaign funds, pay-to-play schemes in judicial races and a political consultancy tied to the county party chair.
My role
Editor. Oversaw reporters Sam Mellins and Chris Bragg on the investigative series into the Bronx Democratic Party.
Impact
Forced new disclosures. After publication, the Bronx Democrats filed over a dozen new or amended campaign finance disclosures with the state Board of Elections.
NY Cannabis Insider / Syracuse.com
Mar 2024
‘Terrified to Criticize’: Accusations of Hostility and Retaliation Surface Against NYS Office of Cannabis Management
Leaked audio and interviews revealed a pattern of alleged selective enforcement and retaliation by the state’s cannabis regulator, prompting the governor to order a sweeping review.
My role
Editor. Oversaw reporter Wes Parnell on the investigation into the Office of Cannabis Management’s leadership and enforcement practices.
Impact
Chief Equity Officer resigned. Governor Hochul ordered sweeping review of the state cannabis program. Subject placed on administrative leave within weeks of publication.
As a reporter
From 2012 to 2024, Brad was a reporter, photographer and videographer at inewsource, NY Cannabis Insider and Syracuse.com — specializing in public records, data, visual storytelling and government accountability.
NY Cannabis Insider / Syracuse.com
Dec 2022
Smoke and Mirrors: Inside the Murky $200M Effort to Kickstart NY's Marijuana Industry
How New York's dormitory authority became entangled in the state's cannabis licensing fund — and what happened to the money.
My role
Lead reporter. Public records investigation, financial document analysis and accountability reporting on a new and opaque state regulatory system.
Impact
CEO resigned shortly after publication. Reporting exposed financial mismanagement in New York's cannabis licensing apparatus.
inewsource
2020
Rewired: An Experimental Brain Treatment Blows Up Two Lives
A Navy SEAL's psychotic break. A $10 million donation squandered. A year-long investigation into unproven electromagnetic therapy at UC San Diego.
My role
Wrote the main two-part investigation with Jill Castellano. Managed videographer Zoë Meyers on the documentary film. Designed the project website.
Impact
Two lawsuits filed. Internal UC San Diego investigation launched. Doctor found to have violated university policies. $10M gift mismanagement made public for the first time.
inewsource
Jul 2019
UCSD Doctor Resigns Amid Questions About China's Thousand Talents Program
A renowned eye doctor under FBI scrutiny for undisclosed ties to Chinese government recruitment efforts resigned after inewsource's reporting.
My role
Co-reported with Jill Castellano. Federal records analysis, source development and investigative writing on national security and academic research compliance.
Impact
Subject resigned and left the country. Investigation prompted renewed federal scrutiny of the Thousand Talents Program at UC San Diego.
inewsource
2018–2019
Dangerous Human Research Alleged at San Diego VA
Two whistleblowers say dangerous liver research was performed on veterans suffering from alcoholism. A congressman called for a hearing.
My role
Lead reporter on the investigation. Developed whistleblower sources, analyzed research protocols and followed up with stories for the next year.
Impact
Congressional hearing called. VA leaders questioned about "egregious" human research practices. Main subject resigned from VA and UCSD — and moved to Dubai.
inewsource
Dec 2018
Security Gaps at San Diego Shipyards Put Billion-Dollar Navy Warships at Risk
Private shipyards responsible for protecting Navy warships were not following security protocols meant to safeguard billion-dollar military assets.
My role
Sole reporter. Records requests, source development and investigative reporting on national defense security failures.
Impact
Congressman called for hearing on shipyard security protocols. National security implications raised publicly for the first time.
inewsource
Multimedia project
An Impossible Choice
A rare look inside a subacute care unit in Coronado, Calif. — one of hundreds statewide housing more than 4,000 life-support patients.
My role
Co-reported with Joanne Faryon. Also served as videographer, editor and web designer on the multimedia project.
Format
Documentary + multimedia project. Visual investigation into end-of-life care, combining photography, video and long-form reporting. Winner: IRE Medal, Meyer "Mike" Berger Award, National Edward R. Murrow Award (Audio & Video categories), National Emmy Award nomination.
Newsroom leadership
Floodlight
Editor-in-Chief
2026 — Present
Refocused a nonprofit newsroom on high-stakes investigative projects, overseeing the organization’s most-read investigation to date. Recruited key reporting talent and established a foundational AI policy framework.
NY Focus
Managing Editor
2024 — 2025
Doubled unique visitors within three months. Helped grow the newsroom from 8 to 15 staff and directly managed an editor and four reporters on long-running investigative series.
NY Cannabis Insider
Editor & Publisher
2021 — 2024
Built the publication from nothing — conceived the editorial vision, launched the site and grew a newsletter from zero to 5,000 subscribers in 12 months. Published 600+ stories and organized 12+ industry conferences while simultaneously reporting the biggest stories on the beat.
inewsource
Senior Reporter & Assistant Editor
2012 — 2021
Joined as an intern when the newsroom was four people and helped build it into a 17-person investigative operation. Wore every hat — reporter, photographer, videographer, web developer, assistant director, editor and partnership director. Built
Transparify, a transparency tool that showed readers exactly how investigations were reported.
AI & Journalism
AI as investigative infrastructure.
Brad brings hands-on AI experience to investigative newsrooms — building tools, instituting policies and training reporters to use artificial intelligence as a key component of investigative reporting. He is constantly building bespoke tools to: scrape, import and analyze data; synthesize disparate record formats; identify and strengthen reporter skill sets; and improve editing and fact-checking workflows. As part of Advance Media's Copilot Center of Excellence, he helped shape enterprise AI strategy for one of the largest media companies in the country.
Honors & Recognition
IRE Medal
× 2 · Investigative Reporters & Editors
Murrow Award
× 4 · RTDNA (2 national, 2 regional)
Emmy Nomination
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Meyer "Mike" Berger Award
Columbia University
AHCJ Award
Association of Health Care Journalists
Golden Mike Award
Radio & Television News Association
Sol Price Award
Society of Professional Journalists
2024
- 1st Place: Distinguished State Government CoverageNew York News Publishers Association
2021
- Golden Mike Award — Medical & Science Reporting (Radio/Podcast)Radio & Television News Association of Southern California
2020
- 1st Place — Health & Medicine (Online/Daily)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Series, Serious Subject (Online/Daily)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Enterprise/Investigative Reporting (Radio/Podcast)San Diego Press Club
- 2nd Place — Investigative Reporting (Online/Daily)San Diego Press Club
- 2nd Place — Health & Medicine (Online/Daily)San Diego Press Club
- Excellence in Journalism AwardSan Diego Society of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Investigative/Enterprise Story, AudioSan Diego Society of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Investigative/Enterprise Story, SeriesSan Diego Society of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Science/Technology StorySan Diego Society of Professional Journalists
- 2nd Place — Investigative/Enterprise Story (Single Subject)San Diego Society of Professional Journalists
2019
- Body of Work AwardSan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Business & FinancialSan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Investigative ReportingSan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Public Service/Consumer AdvocacySan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Enterprise/Investigative Reporting (Radio/Podcast)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — General News Story (Radio/Podcast)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Series, Serious SubjectSan Diego Press Club
- 2nd Place — General NewsSan Diego Press Club
- 2nd Place — Community Service/Public Affairs Report (TV/Video)San Diego Press Club
- 2nd Place — News Feature Pre-Produced (TV/Video)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Audio: Business/Consumer ReportingSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Audio: Community Services Program or SeriesSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Audio: Investigative/EnterpriseSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Business StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Health StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Investigative/Enterprise StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Video: Community Services Program or SeriesSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Video: Investigative/EnterpriseSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Video: NewsSociety of Professional Journalists
- 2nd Place — Video: Investigative/EnterpriseSociety of Professional Journalists
- 3rd Place — Environment StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 3rd Place — Video: Investigative/EnterpriseSociety of Professional Journalists
2018
- SPJ First Amendment AwardSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Education (Online/Daily)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Investigative Reporting (Online/Daily)San Diego Press Club
- 3rd Place — Project ReportingBest of the West
2017
- Best in Show — Online/Daily NewspapersSan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Investigative Reporting (Online/Daily)San Diego Press Club
- 3rd Place — Feature, Serious Subject (Online/Daily)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Investigative/Enterprise StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Legal StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 2nd Place — Investigative/Enterprise StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 3rd Place — Real Estate StorySociety of Professional Journalists
2016
- 1st Place — Investigative Reporting (Daily/Web)San Diego Press Club
- 3rd Place — Investigative Reporting (Daily/Web)San Diego Press Club
- 3rd Place — Enterprise/Investigative Reporting (Radio)San Diego Press Club
2015
- National Emmy Award — Nomination, Outstanding Hard NewsNational Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
- National Edward R. Murrow Award — Audio News SeriesRadio Television Digital News Association
- National Edward R. Murrow Award — Video Hard NewsRadio Television Digital News Association
- Regional Edward R. Murrow Award — Audio News SeriesRadio Television Digital News Association
- Regional Edward R. Murrow Award — Video Hard NewsRadio Television Digital News Association
- 2014 IRE MedalInvestigative Reporters & Editors
- Meyer "Mike" Berger AwardColumbia Journalism School
- 1st Place — Consumer/Feature (National)Association of Health Care Journalists
- Online Journalism Awards — Finalist, Explanatory ReportingOnline News Association
- Mark of Excellence AwardSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Science/Technology Story (Nondaily)Society of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Online Multimedia PackageSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Audio Investigative/Enterprise StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 2nd Place — Audio Investigative/Enterprise StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 2nd Place — Political/Government Story (Nondaily)Society of Professional Journalists
- Best of Show — Daily Newspapers and WebSan Diego Press Club
- Best of Show — RadioSan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Radio, Enterprise/Investigative ReportingSan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Radio, SeriesSan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Investigative Reporting (Daily/Web)San Diego Press Club
- 2nd Place — Investigative Reporting (Daily/Web)San Diego Press Club
2014
- 2013 IRE MedalInvestigative Reporters & Editors
- Sol Price Award for Responsible JournalismSociety of Professional Journalists
- 2nd Place — Nondaily Reporting and WritingSociety of Professional Journalists
- 2nd Place — Television, Investigative/EnterpriseSociety of Professional Journalists
- Best of Show — Integrated MediaSan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Public Service/Consumer Advocacy (Integrated Media)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Science/Technology (Integrated Media)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Series (Integrated Media)San Diego Press Club
- 2nd Place — Investigative Reporting (Integrated Media)San Diego Press Club
2013
- 2012 IRE Medal — FinalistInvestigative Reporters & Editors
- 1st Place — General News Reporting (Large Market)Society of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Nondaily Reporting, News or Feature SeriesSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Online Multimedia PackageSociety of Professional Journalists
- 2nd Place — Nondaily Reporting, Political/Government StorySociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — Investigative Reporting Series (Television)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Public Service/Consumer Advocacy (Integrated Media)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Specialty Reporting Series (Television)San Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Business & Financial (Integrated Media)San Diego Press Club
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place — Investigative Reporting (Integrated Media)San Diego Press Club
2012
- 1st Place — Best Investigative ReportingMissouri Press Foundation
- 1st Place — Radio/Television InterviewSan Diego Press Club
- 2nd Place — Integrated MediaSan Diego Press Club
- 1st Place — Feature WritingSociety of Professional Journalists
- 1st Place — In-Depth ReportingSociety of Professional Journalists
- Regional Winner — Online In-Depth ReportingSociety of Professional Journalists
- Runner-up — Feature Writing (National)Society of Professional Journalists
2011
- 2nd Place — Best Feature StoryMissouri Press Foundation
Memberships & Board Service
Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) |
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) |
ACES: The Society for Editing |
Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) |
NY Coalition on Open Government (Board)
Media appearances & republication
Brad's work — as both reporter and editor — has appeared in or been cited by
PBS NewsHour,
The Washington Post,
The Guardian,
Der Spiegel,
The Atlantic,
The New Yorker,
NBC News,
MSNBC,
Buzzfeed,
Columbia Journalism Review,
Center for Public Integrity,
Marketplace,
Tennessee Lookout,
Mississippi Free Press,
MLK50,
Louisiana Illuminator,
The Lens,
WWNO,
Capital B,
Grist,
Hell Gate,
PBS MetroFocus,
KQED,
KPCC,
KPBS,
CBS8,
NBC San Diego,
Law360,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
The Capitol Pressroom,
Lenfest Institute for Journalism,
Syracuse.com,
InvestigateTV,
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting,
RetractionWatch,
News21,
and others.
