Kate Morrissey

Journalist. Writer. Speaker.

Summary

A veteran reporter located in San Diego with deep sourcing on the immigration beat and specializing in data reporting, accountability journalism and digital production. Advanced journalism skills include trauma-informed interviewing, in-depth knowledge of beat’s complex legal topics and policies, FOIA requests and interactive story-telling. Other skills include proficiency in multiple languages, user experience design, social media, SEO, public speaking, photography and leadership.

Recent Work Experience

Senior Reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2016 to 2023

Adjunct professor, Northwestern University (Evanston, IL), 2016

Intern, The Star newspaper (Johannesburg, South Africa), 2015

Select Awards

Robert Spiers Benjamin Award: Best reporting in any medium on Latin America, Overseas Press Club, 2020

Livingston Award Finalist, International reporting, 2021

Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting Semi-finalist, 2021

Best in Show, San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards, 2021

First Place: Feature story (serious subject), Society of Professional Journalists San Diego Chapter, 2023

Education

Northwestern University, MSJ, 2015

University of Georgia, BA, Literary Translation, 2009 Summa Cum Laude

Kennesaw Mountain High School Magnet Program, Diploma, 2005, Valedictorian

Skills

Languages: native English speaker with extensive study in English literature and creative writing, fluent in Spanish and French, growing knowledge of Portuguese, and beginning Japanese with the ability to pick up new languages rapidly

Data: analysis and visualization of data in R, D3 and Excel

Other: breakdancing, capoeira, djing, music production, website production and coding