Kasia Kovacs

JOURNALIST
kasiakovacs.com | kovacskae@gmail.com | cell: (816)-730-0059 | office: (843)-706-8139 | @kasiakovacs

E D U C A T I O N E X P E R I E N C E
University of Missouri Graduate Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette, Bluffton, SC
School of Journalism May 2017 – present
M.A. News Reporting with emphasis Investigative Reporter
in investigative journalism Worked on enterprise stories, covering law enforcement, local government
December 2016 accountability, the tourism industry and social issues. Worked as lead reporter on
several-month project investigating contamination on local Marine base. Filed
William Jewell College public records requests and analyzed data.
B.A. English Literature and Critical
Theory with Oxbridge Honors, Minor International Business Times, New York, NY
Jan 2017 – April 2017
in French
Labor Reporting Fellow
May 2013
Built labor beat while writing multiple breaking stories per day on tight deadlines.
University of Cambridge
Inside Higher Ed, Washington, DC
Visiting Student of English Literature
Sept 2016 – Dec 2016
and Language Reporting Intern/Master’s Project Professional Placement
2011-2012
Reported stories focusing on free speech and protests on campuses.

S K I L L S American Press Institute, Arlington, VA

May 2016 – Aug 2016
Data analysis (Excel, SQL, OpenRefine); Research Fellow
copy editing; fact checking; basic html Used quantitative and qualitative research skills to examine metrics data of digital
coding; knowledge of FOIA and open longform/enterprise journalism. Analyzed metrics of small-town newspapers.
records laws; social media — Twitter,
Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook; mobile Columbia Missourian, Columbia, MO
photography and videography; Aug 2014 – May 2016
conversational in French & Polish. State Government Reporter, Higher Education Reporter
Broke MU hunger strike story and was lead reporter on ensuing protests —
A W A R D S coverage of MU protests was nominated for a Pulitzer. Reported on state
government and the University of Missouri.
Jay Bender Award for
Assertive Journalism, South Investigative Reporters and Editors, Columbia, MO
Carolina Press Association, 2017 Jan 2015 – Aug 2016
Student Writer of the Year, Great Plains Fellow, Editorial Assistant
Journalism Awards, 2016 Planned, copy edited and fact checked quarterly issues of IRE Journal.
Winner, Atwater Prize for Writing, 2016
White House Correspondents’ Kansas City Star, Kansas City, MO
Association Scholarship, 2016 June 2015 – Aug 2015
First, Second and Third Place, Business Reporter
Education Reporting, Missouri Press Pitched and pursued business and technology stories as an intern, focusing on
Association, 2016 local businesses’ mergers and expansions, as well as local economic
First Place, Feature Writing, Missouri development; created short videos with iPhone.
AP Media Editors Awards, 2016
Third Place, Public Jefferson City News Tribune, Jefferson City, MO
Interest/Investigative Reporting, Aug 2014 – May 2015
Reporter
Missouri AP Media Editors Awards,
2016 Reported on MO legislature and state agencies as an intern; cultivated relationships
with Missouri Congressional Black Caucus and built beat on post-Ferguson
Second Place, Articles about places,
legislation; covered press conferences, breaking news and elections.
AEJMC Magazine National Contest,
2016 Hilltop Monitor, William Jewell, Liberty, MO
Third Place, Investigative Reporting, Sept 2009 – May 2013
Missouri College Media Association
Worked for my undergraduate newspaper as both reporter and chief copy editor.
Contest, 2012