Adam D. Williams
Latin America Correspondent, Writer
Based in Mexico City
AdamDavidW@proton.me; adub.williams@gmail.com
Adam D. Williams is an award-winning investigative journalist and writer based in Mexico City that has covered Latin America and the Caribbean since 2009, reporting from more than a dozen countries. He has worked with the New York Times, National Geographic, Financial Times, El País, The Guardian, Billboard Magazine, D Magazine, MLB.com, Americas Quarterly, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, EcoAmericas, Natural Gas Intelligence, Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg, where he was a staff reporter in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean from 2011-2018.
In April 2023, Williams’s investigation for El País won a Fetisov Journalism Award in the Outstanding Investigative Reporting category. In May 2023, his story for the New York Times from Mexico won an International Sports Press Association (AIPS) award for Best Colour Piece. His story for National Geographic from Angola was also longlisted for the prize.
In 2023, Williams has reported on climate change for The Guardian, Mexico’s mining industry for The Financial Times, a U.S.-Mexico energy corruption investigation for El País, Mexican politics and water shortages for Americas Quarterly, and the U.S.-Mexico energy industry for Natural Gas Intelligence, among many others.
From 2018-2021, Williams was a fellow with the Investigative Reporting Initiative in the Americas through the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and Connectas journalism network. At the conclusion of the fellowship, the investigation published in El País led to a criminal proceeding by the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor of the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and, to date, has resulted in seven open civil cases in U.S. federal courts — four in Austin, two in Houston and one in Boston. From July 2021 through June 2023, the ongoing investigative series has included 13 stories published with El País. Work on the investigation included collaboration with the New York Times and New York Times in Spanish from 2019-2021.
While at Bloomberg from 2011-2018, Williams interviewed the Presidents of Costa Rica and Honduras, as well as ministers, high-ranking executives and politicians in more than a dozen countries, and has extensively covered human and indigenous rights, environmental issues, international drug trade, politics, economics, financial markets, music and sports. Williams also worked in radio at KTCK 1310 The Ticket in Dallas-Fort Worth, Q101 in Chicago, Radio Dos in Costa Rica, and appeared on Bloomberg Radio and NPR West. He regularly appeared on television for Bloomberg TV and Mexican news outlet El Financiero.
In addition to news reporting, Williams was a social worker and interpreter at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago, a high school Spanish teacher at Manassas High School in Memphis and is a graduate of the comedic writing and improvisational acting programs at Chicago’s Second City theater, where he was a contributing writer to shows staged at Second City Chicago’s e.t.c. Theater. He was a four-year letterman at Texas Christian University (TCU), where he played Division I soccer and graduated with honors.
Selected work
Investigative
The unknown winners of Mexico’s energy reform
Investigation into ties between Mexico state electricity company, CFE, and Texas energy startup Whitewater Midstream. Founded in 2016, within two years, Whitewater Midstream became Mexico’s largest natural gas supplier despite no prior existing track record in the industry. The 13 stories published in 2021-2023 investigate the long-standing relationship between executives on both sides, dating back to their time at Royal Dutch Shell during the California Electricity Crisis.
English: Orignal investigation; most recent (in English) June 2023
Español: Investigación original; más reciente Junio 2023
The Obscure Rule Change That Added $5.7 Billion to Pemex’s Books
Bloomberg investigation into how Mexico’s state oil company, Pemex, added $5.7 billion to their books without a public explanation. Story revealed the company added valuation to unused oil fields they planned to abandon.
Mexico Oil Output Bloated by Water Barrels, Official Says
Bloomberg investigation into how Mexican oil company Pemex reported barrels of water as oil to inflate production figures. Pemex revised its oil production numbers as a result of the story the day following publication.
Remote Barra del Colorado Feeds the Open Veins of Costa Rica’s Drug Trade
Tico Times investigation into the international drug trafficking routes on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Story led to government deployment of more security forces in remote Costa Rican village.
Human and indigenous rights
An Indigenous Women’s Softball Team Beats Opponents, and Machismo
New York Times feature on indigenous women’s softball teams that play barefoot and in traditional huipil dresses in the Yucatán Peninsula. Photos included in The New York Times Year in Pictures 2021. The New Yorker and MLB Originals produced short documentaries on the team in 2022.
‘Solar Mamas’ Get Power to Rural Mexicans Utilities Can’t Reach
Bloomberg Markets feature about how indigenous women in Oaxaca, Mexico installed solar power grids in their isolated communities which previously didn’t have access to electricity.
Oil Drillers Face an Angry Mob in Mexico’s Guerrilla Country
Bloomberg BusinessWeek feature on indigenous resistance to oil drilling in Zapatista territory of southern Mexico. Story led to the release of an indigenous activist from jail in the Chiapas state and the Mexican government canceled plans to develop oil in the region following publication.
Before Building a $400 Million Pipeline, Make Sure Your Neighbors Are On Board
Bloomberg feature on indigenous group in northern Mexico that ripped a Sempra Energy natural gas pipeline from the ground to protect native lands. First international story to run on the conflict.
Features, Humor
Landmines took their limbs. Soccer brought them glory.
National Geographic feature on the Angola men’s amputee soccer team, the reigning Amputee World Cup champions and first team in national history to win an international sports title.
That One Night When I Was Roger Federer
Humor essay published in D Magazine.
Mexico issues arrest warrant for former Pemex boss
Financial Times story on issuance of arrest warrant for former Pemex CEO following corruption charges.
How a Netflix Series Revived the Career of Latin Pop Icon Luis Miguel
Billboard feature on fame resurgence of singer Luis Miguel following Netflix series.
Pemex, Mexico’s state oil giant, braces for the country’s new energy landscape
Washington Post story on the opening of Mexico’s energy industry. Story also ran in Bloomberg Markets magazine.
Nicaragua’s Canal: Chinese Tycoon Wang Jing Wants to Build It
Bloomberg BusinessWeek feature from Nicaragua on Chinese billionaire’s plans to build a canal across the country.
McAfee Founder’s Neighbor Dead in Belize After Dogs Poisoned
Bloomberg story that broke news on the details of the murder case in Belize that involved software mogul John McAfee.
Television
Television appearances in Spanish/English for Bloomberg and Bloomberg Mexico affiliate El Financiero.
Author pages: Bloomberg, Billboard, NGI