I am a student at Indiana University Bloomington studying journalism and human-centered computing. I have reported on city and state government and breaking news for the Indiana Daily Student, where I also served as a managing editor of content and news editor. I am an intern and student board member for IU's Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism, where I have contributed to investigative projects for the Associated Press and InvestigateTV. I was a state government intern for the Indiana Capital Chronicle in 2024, and my work as been published in TIME Magazine and West Chester Liberty Lifestyle Magazine.
Selected honors and awards:
Indiana Collegiate Journalist of the Year (2025, Indiana Collegiate Press Association)
Fifth Place Award for Personality/Profile Writing 2024-25 Hearst Journalism Awards
Fifth Place National Feature Story (2024, Associated Collegiate Press)
First Place Animation or Interactive Graphic (2025, Indiana Collegiate Press Association
Second Place Award for Continuous Coverage of a Single Story Online (2025, Indiana Collegiate Press Association)
Contact: miahilkowitz@gmail.com
Indiana Daily Student; Dec. 2024
Future Lt. Gov. Beckwith threatens IDS over front page: 'We will be happy to stop it for them'
Indiana Daily Student; Nov. 2024
Amid Trump immigration actions, DACA holders navigate the unknown
Carnegie-Knight News21; Sept. 2025
IU refuses to release review of Whitten plagiarism allegations
Indiana Daily Student; Sept. 2025
How ultramarathon running thrives in Indiana
Indiana Daily Student; May 2025
Indiana families grapple with ban on gender affirming care for minors
Indiana Daily Student; July 2023
AI, defense and hazing: A look at IU's $440k in federal lobbying
Indiana Daily Student; Jan. 2025
Coverage of trial challenging Indiana's strict abortion ban
Indiana Capital Chronicle; May 2024
Months-long coverage of Bloomington ceasefire resolution, mayoral override and community response
Indiana Daily Student; Feb.-May 2024
Indiana Daily Student: July 2023
State agencies pour thousands of dollars into state fair to reach Hoosiers
Indiana Capital Chronicle; July 2024
Pro-Palestine encampment, arrests and administration fallout at IU
Indiana Daily Student; April-May 2024
Bloomington and Indiana issues at the Democratic National Convention
Indiana Daily Student; Aug. 2024
Indiana Daily Student; Feb. 2024
Election recount efforts in Indiana
Indiana Capital Chronicle; May-Aug. 2024
Indiana Court of Appeals weighs constitutionality of handgun restrictions for indicted persons
Indiana Capital Chronicle; June 2023
Proposed local income tax increase could support new jail construction. Here's how to weigh in
Indiana Daily Student; Sept. 2024
'Truly a game changer': Indiana AG leaders focus on farm bill impact
Indiana Capital Chronicle; May 2024
Protesters march June 14, 2025, through downtown Dallas during the "No Kings" protest against President Donald Trump and his administration. The nationwide day of protest occurred following the Trump administration's sweeping overhaul of the country's immigration system.
(top): Protesters hold up their phones to record by the Monroe County Jail on April 27, 2024, in Bloomington. Indiana Daily Student; May 2024
(bottom): A protester holds up peace signs to the Indiana State Police at the Monroe County Jail on April 27, 2024, in Bloomington. Indiana Daily Student; May 2024
(above) More than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters link arms to surround an encampment outside the Indiana Memorial Union in Bloomington on April 26. Inside the encampment, there was food, medical supplies, tents, and a pile of backpacks. TIME Magazine; May 2024 (link to online publication)
A protester walks between police and other protesters at the Monroe County Jail on April 27, 2024, in Bloomington. Indiana Daily Student; April 2024
(top): Indiana State Police troopers watch protesters march across IU-Bloomington's campus on April 29, 2024. Indiana Daily Student; April 2024
(bottom): Hundreds of protesters gather and listen to speeches April 29, 2024, in front of Bryan Hall in Bloomington. Protesters demanded the resignations of IU President Pamela Whitten and Provost Rahul Shrivastav. Indiana Daily Student; May 2024
(top): IU graduate student Ann Campbell holds an Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition shirt reading "United We Bargain, Divided We Beg" April 17, 2024, outside Ballantine Hall in Bloomington. Campbell tried to sell these shirts to tour groups as they walked past the building. Indiana Daily Student; April 2024
(bottom): Protesters hold signs reading "Let Us Vote for Union Recognition" April 17, 2024, outside Ballantine Hall in Bloomington. The Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition approved a motion for a three-day strike in a vote concluding on April 15, 2024. Indiana Daily Student; May 2024
Vanille wears pins reading "We are the majority" and "Ready to Strike" on her collar as she sits with her owner, Ph.D. student Hicham Bouhlal, on April 17, 2024, outside Ballantine Hall in Bloomington. "She's striking with us," Bouhlal said. Indiana Daily Student; April 2024
Indiana University spent around $440,000 last year lobbying the federal government on issues ranging from its defense partnerships to artificial intelligence research to campus hazing legislation, among a wide range of other topics.
At the end of the fiscal year, I reported on these expenses for the Indiana Daily Student. I created an infographic comparing spending from universties in the Big 10 conference, as well as a table allowing readers to look at each of IU's recorded activities, available here.
Shortly after IU President Pamela Whitten received a $175,500 bonus, the Indiana Daily Student published a story revealing the university spent over $1 million solely on raises for IU administrators over the previous year. The story came at a time when IU was slashing academic departments, staff positions and course offerings to cut costs.
I visualized each cabinet member's salary increase for this story.
State agencies including the Hoosier Lottery, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and Secretary of State’s Office pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into the state fair each year to sponsor information booths, giveaways, concert performances and more.
Sponsorships from public and private groups for the fair, which climbed to $2.6 million for the 2023 event, is just one way the Indiana State Fair Commission (ISFC) brings in revenue. To gather this data, I submitted public records requests and met with representatives from state agencies.
Ahead of the 2024 state fair, I took a look at the finances behind the event in a story for the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Each year, the Indiana Farm Bureau conducts a summer market basket survey to guage prices of food products across the state. This data visualization reflects the changing prices of popular items included on the survey to help readers see the change in average prices over the past four years. I broke down these prices, and the impact it has on consumers, in a story for the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Indiana’s nine U.S. House members received a combined $199,332 in reimbursements for lodging, meals and incidentals in 2023 as part of a new program that allows federal lawmakers to recoup expenses without providing receipts. I broke down the highest spenders from Indiana in this story for the Indiana Capital Chronicle.