Josh Hinkle, KXAN, Director of Investigations & Innovation / Political Host "State of Texas" - Multi-platform Storytelling & Investigations for News
About the Program:
This discussion explores the many ways news consumers connect with stations, from the over-the-air broadcast, online, and increasingly, on their phones. Broadcasters must go where the audience is, and this can be a boon for investigative reporting and general assignment coverage. Multi-platform reporting gives pieces room to breathe beyond the limitations of an over-the-air newscast, further serving the audience. Hinkle will detail how some of his best work began with a question and led to the story being told on multiple platforms, not just the over-the-air signal.
About the Speaker:
Josh Hinkle is KXAN’s director of investigations and innovation, leading the Austin, Texas, station’s 13-person investigative team on multiple platforms. He also leads KXAN’s political coverage as the executive producer and host of “State of Texas,” a weekly program focused on the Texas Legislature and elections, seen in 14 markets statewide. His work surrounding investigative journalism, political reporting and multi-platform storytelling has been honored in recent years with an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, an IRE Award, seven national Edward R. Murrow Awards, three Walter Cronkite Awards, an SPJ Sigma Delta Chi Award, six National Headliner Awards, a National Press Club Award, three NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Awards and the American Legion’s Fourth Estate Award.
Josh earned Emmys in both 2013 and 2025 for Best Reporter in Texas and was named Reporter of the Year by the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters in both 2012 and 2013. In 2024, the Texas Association of Broadcasters recognized him with the Jason Hightower Award for Broadcast Excellence. Before coming to Austin, Josh worked as a reporter, anchor and producer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Columbia, Missouri; and Oklahoma City.
In addition to serving as IRE Board President, he sits on the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas board of directors, Lone Star Emmys board of governors and SPJ ethics committee. He also teaches as a faculty member for the NPPA News Video Workshop and chairs the RTDNA awards committee.
Josh earned his bachelor’s degree with honors in journalism and Spanish from Oklahoma State University, where he returned in 2024 as the Paul Miller Lecture Series speaker. After OSU, he gained his master’s degree in journalism and public policy from the University of Missouri. He has also been an adjunct professor of broadcast journalism at St. Edward’s University in Austin for several years.
Agenda:
6:45am - Coffee & Networking
7:10am - Breakfast Buffet
7:25am - Introductions & Announcements
7:50am - Speaker Introduction
8:20am - Q&A
8:30am - Leave inspired or curious!
