Kathleen Johnston

Kathleen Johnston serves as Founding Director of the Michael I. Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism and Professor of Practice at Indiana University's Media School.

She earned her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Political Science from Indiana University in 1982.

Johnston specializes in high-impact investigative journalism spanning national security, government corruption, and disaster response. Her career demonstrates exceptional skill in uncovering systemic failures during chaotic events like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the Virginia Tech shooting, consistently driving policy changes through rigorous reporting. Her methodology combines deep source cultivation with forensic document analysis across broadcast, print, and documentary formats.

Her transformative work has earned journalism's highest honors:

• National Press Foundation’s Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for congressional earmark investigation
• DuPont-Columbia Silver Baton for Ruth Lilly estate reporting
• Multiple Emmy, Peabody, and Murrow awards
• Sagamore of the Wabash (Indiana's highest civilian honor)
• Media School Distinguished Alumni Award (2017)

As academic leader, Johnston developed the Arnolt Center curriculum since 2018-19, securing a $100,000 Press Forward grant. She mentors students through annual symposia connecting them with working journalists, while maintaining active freelance reporting. Her work directly influences legislative reforms, including Indiana's open records law changes and TSA watchlist policy overhauls.

The Michael I. Arnolt Center functions as her primary research laboratory, providing students with real-world investigative experience through collaborative projects with professional news organizations.