Kacey Smith

Casey Smith is an investigative journalist for The Associated Press, where she reports on Indiana’s state legislature with a focus on education funding and election policies. A Report for America corps member, she combines data analysis with grassroots storytelling to highlight inequities in public education and environmental governance.

Pitching Insights

  • Seek Local Nuances: Smith prioritizes stories that reveal how state-level decisions affect marginalized communities, such as her coverage of voucher programs in affluent school districts.
  • Avoid National Speculation: She steers clear of partisan national politics, focusing instead on actionable policy changes within Indiana.

Awards

  • Berkeley Food Institute Research Fellowship (2020) for investigating sustainable agriculture.
  • Emmy® Nomination for Writing (2017) during her tenure at Fox Sports South.

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More About Kacey Smith

Bio

Career Trajectory

Casey Smith has established herself as a meticulous journalist specializing in state politics, education policy, and environmental accountability. Beginning her career at Ball State University’s The Daily News as editor-in-chief, she later earned a master’s degree in investigative reporting from UC Berkeley. Her fellowship with Report for America positioned her at The Associated Press, where she covers the Indiana legislature with a focus on elections and K-12 funding[4][5].

Key Articles

This analysis examines Republican-led education budget proposals in Indiana, highlighting debates over flat funding growth and expanded school vouchers. Smith’s reporting underscores tensions between fiscal policies and public education equity, quoting legislators and advocates to contextualize the impact on low-income districts[10].

Beat Analysis & Pitching Recommendations

1. Focus on Hyperlocal Education Policy

Smith prioritizes K-12 funding mechanisms and legislative decisions affecting classroom resources. Pitches should highlight underreported disparities in rural school districts or innovative local tax reforms. For example, her coverage of Indiana’s voucher expansion demonstrates her interest in how policy shifts alter access to education[10].

2. Environmental Accountability in State Governance

While Smith’s primary beat is politics, her graduate research on water quality and law enforcement intersects with environmental policy. Successful pitches might explore how state legislation addresses pollution enforcement or allocates resources for environmental justice initiatives[4][5].

Awards and Achievements

  • Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship: Awarded for academic excellence and leadership potential, this competitive fellowship supported her investigative journalism training at UC Berkeley[5].
  • Indiana Student Journalist of the Year: Recognized for her editorial leadership at The Daily News, where she expanded coverage of campus diversity initiatives[5].

Pitching Tips

  • Data-Driven Local Stories: Smith leverages datasets to contextualize policy impacts, such as correlating funding changes with student outcomes.
  • Cross-Beat Angles Stories linking education, environment, or law enforcement to legislative action align with her interdisciplinary approach.

Top Articles

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