In 2024, Pittsburgh Tomorrow embarked on a first-of-its-kind journalism initiative called The New Americans, spearheaded by acclaimed founder, writer, and editor Tracy Certo. The series was conceived to address one of Pittsburgh’s long-time population woes: while we were once a city fueled by a steady influx of global immigrants, we now rank among the lowest populations of foreign-born residents in the nation.
The New Americans set out to chronicle the experiences of foreign-born Pittsburgh residents, including their triumphs and struggles, their unique talents and contributions, and their diverse perspectives on what it’s like to grow roots in Pittsburgh.
With the help of the Pittsburgh Media Partnership, the stories were made available for free to all outlets in the Pittsburgh region. 36 stories (and counting) have been published in 14 publications, and the series has reached hundreds of thousands of readers region-wide. More importantly, it’s become a critical voice in reshaping how Pittsburgh’s media—and its residents—understand immigration and its vital role in our future.
This week, The New Americans was recognized at the 2025 Western Pennsylvania Golden Quill Awards. The series was a finalist in the category of Excellence in Journalistic Craft Achievement for a Multiplatform Project and won awards for Excellence in Collaboration and Excellence in Written Journalism, Enterprise/Investigative and Public Affairs/Politics/Government.
We asked some of Pittsburgh’s editors to reflect on how The New Americans has benefitted their publications and readers.
Making Pittsburgh More Welcoming
“After taking over as Editor of NEXTpittsburgh, I put a lot of thought into how we can make sure there is no doubt in our readers’ minds what we mean when we say we want Pittsburgh to be for ALL. For years, we have been dedicating coverage to locals from underrepresented communities of all kinds, so partnering with the Pittsburgh Tomorrow project made perfect sense.”
–Crissy Holzer, Editor of NEXTpittsburgh
“I’ve enjoyed and learned from the New Americans series as a reader, but especially valued it as an editor…The stories were well told, and the data well-presented. They were very helpful in understanding the new Americans’ experience in general, and particularly in Western Pennsylvania, and the two were artfully integrated. Speaking as an editor, it is hard to create articles that good, but it’s that quality we need to affect readers’ thinking.”
-David Mills, Deputy Editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Capturing Nuanced experiences
“I think the series is incredibly powerful, and more vital now than ever. I enjoy the way most of the stories capture immigrants’ determination, joy, and successes. With the way the immigrant landscape is changing so rapidly, I could see a pivot to highlighting more of the injustices they’re facing, though I certainly hope there’s room for both.”
-Ali Trachta, Editor-in-Chief of Pittsburgh City Paper
“I believe there is immense value in featuring immigrants who contribute to the regional economy and enrich the cultural landscape in Pittsburgh. Stereotypes about foreigners and instances of racism can often be found in this area. Projects like The New Americans offer profiles from a different perspective that, when shared by various media outlets, enable the community to see immigrants in a new light—challenging preconceived notions of who immigrants are and what they do here.”
-Maria Manatou-Matos, Founder and Editor of Pittsburgh Latino Magazine
Supporting Local Journalism
“The pieces have been distributed at no cost to the 32 Partnership newsrooms, some of which struggle to produce substantive material to satisfy their readers. Through the Partnership, the series has the potential to reach millions of readers across 10 counties.”
-Andrew Conte, Director of the Pittsburgh Media Partnership
“Stories from The New Americans are especially valuable for Kidsburgh because we are a very tiny team. Though we work hard to offer compelling reporting and writing to our readers, it’s a real benefit to be offered these powerful, well-written, and thoroughly reported stories. We’re also glad to have your help in highlighting the many immigrant communities in the Pittsburgh region.”
-Melissa Rayworth, Kidsburgh Executive Editor
Looking Ahead
In addition to the editor’s perspectives, the region’s readers left many thoughtful and positive comments on social media and digital platforms. The response paints a clear picture: The New Americans is not only meeting its editorial mission—it’s also meeting a real community need. As Pittsburgh Tomorrow continues to develop this series, we remain committed to storytelling that uplifts, informs, and challenges assumptions.
Ultimately, these stories are not just about immigration. They are about entrepreneurship, resilience, belonging, and the future of Pittsburgh itself. And as proud as we are of the success of the series, we’re even more proud of the Pittsburghers whose stories inspired it.
Read the stories from The New Americans project here.
