Kate West

Kate West is an Assistant Professor of Instruction and Graduate Advisor in the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Texas at Austin. She also serves as Director of Reporting Texas and oversees the master’s professional track. With 20 years of broadcast journalism experience, she previously worked at KXAN News Today (2004-2018), winning an Emmy for the program. Her expertise spans broadcast journalism, mental health support for journalists, and media ethics.

Education:

• Bachelor’s in Communication, University of Massachusetts
• Master’s and Ph.D. in Journalism, University of Texas at Austin

Research & Initiatives: Kate focuses on mental wellness in journalism, authoring Journalists Break News, Don’t Let it Break You and co-developing the pioneering Journalism and Mental Health course. She advocates for addressing mental health challenges in local news environments.

Awards:

• Emmy Nomination
• Emmy Award for KXAN News Today

Advising & Leadership: Oversees graduate studies and directs Reporting Texas, a student journalism initiative. Previously taught at the University of Georgia’s Department of Telecommunications.

Labs/Teams: Leads Reporting Texas, a platform for student investigative reporting.