New county, courts reporter joins the Daily Bee

Hi, my name is Grant Coursey and I am the new county/courts reporter for the Daily Bee.

It is my firm belief that journalism exists to serve the community by keeping residents informed on the issues and happenings they care about. I am excited to immerse myself in Bonner County and learn what issues matter to its residents so I can provide this service to the best of my ability.  

I grew up in a small, rural town in northern California before eventually moving to Fort Collins, Colo., to attend Colorado State University.   

While at Colorado State, I studied history and political science, worked as an outdoor guide for the university’s outdoor program, and climbed, skied, canyoneered, and backpacked as much as my studies allowed. 

I have been fascinated by history since childhood and studying it at Colorado State instilled in me an appreciation for historical context that has shaped the way I approach journalism. It is a core belief of mine that often the key to understanding something is understanding its history. 

In my last semester at Colorado State, I joined the Rocky Mountain Collegian newspaper as a staff writer and fell in love with journalism. At the Collegian, I was privileged to cover a wide range of stories including student and faculty protests, the rise of ChatGPT in the classroom, and the work of one Colorado State graduate who was running a humanitarian aid hub on the border of Ukraine.  

After graduating from Colorado State in 2023, I used some of the connections I made at the Collegian to travel to Ukraine as a freelance journalist and write stories on non-profit and volunteer work surrounding Ukraine’s war effort.  

When my father’s health declined, I returned from Ukraine to support my family. While home with my family, I worked in communications for the past year before accepting this position with the Bee and returning to the two things I love most: journalism and the mountains. 

If you see me on a ski run at Schweitzer or getting a coffee downtown, please don’t hesitate to say hello. I am always interested in meeting members of the community. If you have leads to share, stories worth reporting, or feedback on my work, please contact me at gcoursey@bonnercountydailybee.com. 

    Bonner County Daily Bee's new county and courts reporter, Grant Coursey.