BEN PAVIOUR

Politics Reporter, Richmond

For Virginia Homebuyers, Rent-to-Own Homes Often Too Good To Be True

VPM/NPR

If you’ve got bad credit, rent-to-own homes can seem like a good way to get your own place. But some housing experts say they come with lots of risks.

Winner of a Regional Murrow award for Investigative Reporting and First Place in PRINDI's Enterprise/Investigative category. 

In Wake of Scandals, Black Lawmakers Connect Policy with Race

VPM/NPR

For Virginia's black caucus, February's blackface scandals are the start of a long-overdue discussion about how policies in the General Assembly affect minority communities.

In Lexington, He’s A Professor; In Ghana, He’s A King

VPM

Most students in Daniel Wubah's biology class don't know they're talking to Ghanian royalty. This story won a 2019 Regional Murrow for feature reporting.

ABOUT

I cover Virginia state politics for VPM, the NPR affiliate in Richmond. My work appears regularly on NPR. I've won three regional Murrow awards and one PRINDI award since beginning audio journalism in 2018. 

I previously led politics coverage for The Cambodia Daily before its forced closure in September 2017. My stories have since appeared in BBC News, Washington Monthly, Christian Science Monitor, The Diplomat and more.