Arwa Gunja

Takeaway Executive Producer

Arwa Gunja started with The Takeaway in 2009. In the years since, she has worked nearly every job from producer to editor, and now as Executive Producer. During her many years with the show, she helped to produce an award-winning series chronicling the stories of African American women living with breast cancer; she worked on a three-part series on voters in Lake County, Ohio during the 2012 presidential campaign season; and she produced and edited a digital media project commemorating the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. Arwa also oversaw editorial content during breaking news events including Hurricane Sandy, the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, and the fall of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

In between her time as Senior Producer of The Takeaway and Executive Producer of The Takeaway, Arwa was the Executive Producer of Freakonomics Radio, hosted by Stephen Dubner. There, she oversaw the award-winning weekly podcast and the expansion of Freakonomics Radio on to terrestrial radio.

Arwa got her start as a producer at NPR, where she worked on several programs, including Morning Edition and Tell Me More. She also worked with the network's Election Unit to cover the 2008 presidential election, including election night coverage and President Barack Obama's inauguration.

In the spring of 2012, Arwa was selected as a fellow with the International Center for Journalists, based in Washington, D.C. Through the fellowship, she traveled to France to report on the impacts of the country's "burqa ban" legislation one year later.

Arwa Gunja appears in the following:

Mueller Investigation and Cabinet Shakeups: A Pulse Check on Trump's Administration

Monday, December 10, 2018

As 2018 nears its end, we check in on the latest with the Trump Administration.

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How Wisconsin Fails its Black Residents

Wednesday, December 05, 2018

By many measures, Wisconsin is one the worst places for black Americans to live.

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Earlonne Woods, Co-Host of Prison Podcast, Has Sentence Commuted

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Gov. Jerry Brown commuted Woods' sentence after having spent 21 years behind bars.

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Family, Friendship and Politics Collide on Thanksgiving

Friday, November 23, 2018

Amy Walter explores the ways in which relationships have been strained by political discord.

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For Some Native Americans, Rethinking an American Holiday

Thursday, November 22, 2018

One chef is reclaiming Thanksgiving for Native Americans like himself, with a focus on Native foods.

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Has Trump Kept His Campaign Promises?

Friday, October 12, 2018

Less than a month away from the Midterms, and two years out from the 2016 campaign, an hour-long analysis of the promises that candidate Trump ran on, and if he's followed through.

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Gulf Coast Residents Prepare for "Unprecedented" Hurricane

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Residents in the Gulf Coast are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Michael. The National Weather Service called it an "unprecedented" event for the Florida Panhandle.

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She's Running! Women in Politics, Tipping Back the Balance of Power

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

1992 was hailed as the "Year of the Woman" for the record number of female candidates elected to national office. But this term suggests women in politics are outliers. Is that right?

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Four Members of DHS Advisory Council Resign in Protest Over Treatment of Migrant Families

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Citing the "morally repugnant" treatment of migrant families, four members of the Department of Homeland Security's Advisory Council have resigned in protest.

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ACLU Wins 3.4 Million in Milwaukee Stop and Frisk Lawsuit

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

The ACLU lawsuit accuses Milwaukee police of routinely stopping thousands of black and brown residents without cause or suspicion under the practice known as “stop and frisk.”

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Trade War? Going Tit-for-Tat on Tariffs

Friday, June 15, 2018

As President Trump ratchets up the tensions with China over trade, a deep dive into the issues underlying this economic uncertainty.

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From Beach Reads to Searing Memoirs: What to Read This Summer

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

For a break from the unrelenting rampage of news, The Takeaway flips through some of the major literary releases of the summer.

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Dozens Killed as Guatemala's Fuego Volcano Erupts

Monday, June 04, 2018

At least 62 people were killed after Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted this weekend. It was the volcano's most violent eruption in more than a century.

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Italy Nearing Constitutional Crisis With No Government Coalition

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Italy has been without a permanent government since an election in early March resulted in a hung parliament.

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Truck Drivers in Brazil Protest Soaring Fuel Prices

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

The strike has ground the the country to a halt. Protesters are blocking highways, supermarkets are rationing fruit and gas stations are running out of fuel.

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On Memorial Day: Stories of Trauma, Survival and Renewal

Monday, May 28, 2018

This Memorial Day, The Takeaway brings you five stories that deal with trauma, survival, psychedelics, music and convalescence.

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Junot Díaz Allegations Prompt Debate Over Race and Identity

Thursday, May 17, 2018

A group of prominent Latina scholars have penned an open letter defending Junot Díaz against what they describe as unfair media treatment.

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Congressman Ro Khanna Wants to Slash Income Inequality

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Representative Ro Khanna, Democrat representing Silicon Valley, is working on a bill aimed at boosting the middle class by expanding the 'Earned Income Tax Credit.'

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"Jewel's Catch One" Jives to Legacy of Black Disco in Los Angeles

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

A new documentary from creator C. Fitz explores the legacy of America's oldest black-owned disco club, as well as the life of businesswoman and activist Jewel Thais-Williams.

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Arrest Made in Decades-Long Search for Golden State Killer

Thursday, April 26, 2018

After searching for more than 40 years, authorities believe they have identified the notorious Golden State Killer, a former police officer living in Citrus Heights, California.

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