James O’Connor Fields first learned to read a city budget at his grandmother’s kitchen table in Pennsport—she’d worked thirty-two years as a clerk in Philadelphia’s Water Department and had opinions about every line item. That early education stuck. Today, as Senior Correspondent for News of Philadelphia, he covers municipal government, city contracts, and the bureaucratic machinery that shapes daily life across the region.
Career Highlights
Before joining News of Philadelphia in 2019, James spent six years at the Bucks County Courier Times covering suburban development and county politics, followed by a reporting role at WHYY’s news desk during the 2016 election cycle. His 2022 investigation into billing irregularities at the Philadelphia Parking Authority resulted in an internal audit and policy changes affecting how the agency handles payment disputes.
Background & Expertise
James holds a journalism degree from Temple University, where he edited The Temple News his senior year. In 2021, he completed an Investigative Reporters & Editors data journalism workshop—training he credits with sharpening his approach to public records requests. The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association recognized his Parking Authority series with a Keystone Media Award for investigative reporting.
When he’s not filing Right-to-Know requests, James refs youth soccer games in Fairmount and maintains an inexplicable loyalty to the Philadelphia Union despite their best efforts to test it.
Stay Connected
Contact: 📧 [email protected]