Louisville Public Media's Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting (KyCIR) announced today the hiring of Kristina Goetz, a veteran investigative and projects reporter with strong Kentucky roots.
Goetz (pronounced "Gates") has reported across the country for The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal, The Cincinnati Enquirer, and, most recently, The Arizona Republic, where she is a senior reporter on the storytelling team.
"Journalism that combines both great storytelling and a clear spotlight on public affairs has been what I've wanted to do since I was a teenager," Goetz said. "I've been lucky to do that for some incredible publications. Coming to a bold new project like KyCIR is an honor. And I'm glad to be part of it."
Goetz, who grew up in Owensboro, graduated from Western Kentucky University (WKU). While at WKU, she was editor-in-chief of The College Heights Herald.
She began her professional career covering Northern Kentucky for the Enquirer. During her five years at the newspaper, she covered the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and broke the national OxyContin story, exposing pill abuse and a distribution pipeline through the region. She has in-depth experience in Northern Kentucky from her coverage of Boone County.
From there, she moved to New York City, where she earned a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and then worked as a research assistant and first-draft editor for famed Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein on his recent biography of Hillary Clinton, "A Woman in Charge."
Goetz returned to the South three years later and worked as an investigative reporter for The Commercial Appeal. During her years there, she exposed corruption in a local school district, profiled a jihadist, and went undercover with members of the Memphis Police Department in a series on crime.
"We are excited to add another talented journalist to our growing newsroom," said Brendan McCarthy, managing editor of the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. "Kristina is an enterprising reporter who knows and loves Kentucky."
Goetz has won national E.W. Scripps Awards for writing and enterprise reporting and was named Best News Writer in Ohio.
She will join the KyCIR newsroom in mid-January 2014.