Vasant Laplam in March 2023
Hello there!
I’m an award-winning data and advocacy journalist with over a decade of experience that bridges engineering, programming, and editorial storytelling for organizations.
My background includes a stint as software engineer at the New York Times, where I transitioned into writing, contributing to their Overlooked obituary series. That moment clarified my path — I went on to earn a master’s in journalism at NYU and I’ve since worked across trade publications and independent platforms, most recently reporting on payments and fintech at Industry Dive.
I currently contribute to the Ithaca Times, a local newspaper in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. I bring a sharp analytical eye, narrative instinct, and deep curiosity to everything I cover, whether it’s charting data for social media or exploring structural inequity through reported essays.
In the summer of 2024, I legally changed my name to Vasant Alex Laplam. My previous work was written under the name James Pothen.