Dear Reader,
Two of our reporters spent months uncovering how for-profit cosmetology schools leave graduates deeply in debt, while the schools work hard to keep a monopoly on teaching this trade. The New York Times ran our investigation on the front page of its Sunday Business section last year. And now, Hechinger's diligence has been recognized with a New York Newswomen's Club Front Page Award for in-depth reporting.
Earning a cosmetology certificate in Iowa costs $20,000 on average, in part because the hours required are much higher than elsewhere in the country. The job usually pays about $25,000 a year. It’s a devastating equation for the thousands of mostly female students who enroll in beauty schools. Many leave mired in debt, unable to make ends meet despite hopes that their certificate will lead to a better life.
Telling this story took time and expertise, careful reporting and vigorous fact-checking. We are so proud of Meredith Kolodner and Sarah Butrymowicz for their hard work on this story and for this well-deserved recognition. And we can't wait to get back at it and report more stories like this one.
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Yours,
Lawrie Mifflin
Managing Editor
The Hechinger Report
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