PETER CHAMPELLI
interdisciplinary journalist, voracious learner, and experimental designer.
making data visualizations and animated explainers at the wall street journal and interactive art at MOTEL.
work:
How the Tragedy at Camp Mystic Unfolded, Cabin by Cabin
Breaking news investigation and explanatory recreation on how and why Camp Mystic flooded.
🏆 Pulitzer Finalist
Role: Pitching, reporting (diagram, GIS, photo, and document analysis), 3D modeling, motion design, writing and editing/production
Timeline: Eight days
Toxic Fumes Are Leaking Into Airplanes, Sickening Crews and Passengers
Explanatory 3D graphic explaining how outdated engine parts led to poisoning crew and passengers.
🏆 SABEW 🏆 Deadline Club
Role: Diagram analysis, 3D modeling, motion design, writing and production
Timeline: Four months (intermittent)
How Trump Gained Ground Across the Country
Explanatory data visualization on the 2025 midterm elections.
Role: Data analysis, data visualization, GIS, design, writing and production
Timeline: One day
Bills Restricting Care for
Trans Teens Skyrocket
Reporting and data visualization
explaining rise in legislation.
Role: Pitching, Reporting (data analysis and interviews), data visualization, design, writing and production
Timeline: Two months (intermittent)
Where Democrats Won Back Trump’s Multiracial, Working-class Coalition
Explanatory data visualization on the 2025 midterm elections.
Role: Data analysis, data visualization, GIS, design, writing and production
Timeline: Two days
Reporting and visual explanation on how quantum computing is faster than traditional computers and how it could disrupt industry.
Role: Pitching, reporting, 3D modeling, motion design, writing and editing/production
Timeline: Five months (intermittent)
Interview on WBUR:
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Extends the Marvel Empire in Film Franchises
Interactive data visualization explaining Marvel’s box-office rise and its relation to media consolidation.
Role: Pitching, coding (D3), reporting (data analysis and interviews), data visualization and writing
Timeline: Two months (intermittent)
29 Shots in 24 Seconds: How a Killing Was Cast as
Self-Defense
3D animation recreating crime scene to explain police’s lack of analysis.
🏆 🏆 Society for News Design (2)
Role: Reporting (GIS and crime scene analysis), illustration, 3D modeling, motion design, writing
Timeline: One month (intermittent)
Ships Have Become Supersized Since Baltimore Bridge Was Built
Role: Reporting (data analysis), data visualization, design, writing
Timeline: Four days
The Risky Mission to Salvage Mike Lynch’s Sunken Superyacht
3D animation explaining yacht recovery effort.
Role: Reporting (diagram analysis), 3D modeling, design, animation, writing and production
🏆 Society for News Design
Timeline: Two weeks
Can You Gerrymander
Your Party to Power?
Original motion design and off-platform rollout for New York Times game.
HOME: The past, present and future of Ithaca’s housing crisis
40-minute investigative documentary incorporating data analysis, visualization, and on the ground reporting to explore systemic roots of housing inequality in Ithaca.
🏆 Institute for Nonprofit News
assorted graphics
I use TouchDesigner to create static and animated visuals from data, which can span from a simple CSV to live feeds of MIDI information, speech recognition, GIS data, or live audio decibels.
awards
2026 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Breaking News
2026 New York Press Club Business Reporting
2026 Society for News Design Infographic design
2026 Society for News Design Infographic design
2026 Society for News Design Page design*
2026 Society for News Design Use of video*
2026 Deadline Club Finalist for Reporting
2025 SABEW Business Reporting
2025 SABEW Science Reporting*
2025 Lowell Thomas Travel Reporting
2024 Society for News Design Infographic design
2024 New York Press Club Infographics
2022 Society for News Design Off-platform design
2021 Institute for Nonprofit News Medium Newsroom
*contributed