RIP City Paper
RIP Pittsburgh City Paper, 1991–2025. I’ll be looking for opportunities in the new year! By all means reach out at cobawill(at)gmail(dot)com if you’ve got tips, suggestions or opportunities to share.
Quills 2025
I won three Golden Quills this year for my spot coverage of a bill to scrutinize our crumbling rail infrastructure, health coverage of UPMC executives’ jetsetting, and my montly Transit Talk column. Congrats to all this year’s winners and finalists!
Prize finalist
Starting the new year off strong with news that I’ve been named a finalist for the New American Press Fiction Prize for my (as yet still unpublished) novel Bonn! I plan to put all my creative writing chips in on publishing this and a second book this year, so cross your fingers for me. In…
Point Park
I’m now on week three of teaching communications students at Point Park University! It’s a different vibe from Pitt, but the students are talkative and insightful. The CV on my About page now reflects this and a few other recent academic experiences as I continue to grow my career as an educator.
Golden Quill
I’ve won a Golden Quill for Excellence in Written Journalism: Division 3 Feature! My award this year was for my look back at the decline of Pittsburgh nightclubs. This was a fun article to write and prompted lots of discussion online. Thanks to the Western Pa. Press Club for recognizing my work and that of…
City Paper
A new chapter has begun—I’m in week four of editing the news at Pittsburgh City Paper! Beyond coordinating others’ reporting, I’ve already covered music, housing, transgender rights and (of course) craft beer. Look for my byline in online and print articles at pghcitypaper.com, and if you have tips, gossip and/or other local tomfoolery to share,…
Air quality investigation
I’m proud to be involved with a Pittsburgh Media Partnership group publishing an ongoing series on regional air quality and mis/disinformation. My two-month investigation of grassroots science methodology came out last week via Ambridge Connection and The Incline. Check it out for an overview of how locals keep watch over industrial polluters and the limitations…
“Paint”
Ten years after I wrote the first draft and 23 rejections later, my microfiction “Paint” is out in the world thanks to New South. This story draws on art handling, spelunking and paint colors to trace the edges of personal loss. I’m really excited it’s published, and I hope you enjoy it!
“Sanguine”
It’s been a banner year for trying new things, and that includes my first publication of a poem since college. Said poem is “Sanguine,” a reflection on caring for someone else. It’s available for you to read on Medicine and Meaning, a really unique publication from the University of Arkansas that focuses on medical creative…
The Incline
I’ve officially started a new professional chapter—I’m fully entering online journalism as local director of The Incline newsletter. From Tuesday–Friday, The Incline delivers a digest of Pittsburgh news interspersed with in-depth local coverage and event listings. If you’re a City of Bridges resident, by all means subscribe and/or put your event on our calendar!
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Colin Williams 
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