Based in New York as the investigative projects editor at Reuters, Blake Morrison has overseen and edited three projects that were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize: The Child Exchange, an investigation of America’s underground market for adopted children; The Echo Chamber, a special report that revealed how a handful of lawyers came to have an outsized influence in the US Supreme Court; and Cheat Sheet, an investigation into how standardised tests used by universities to determine who to accept have been compromised by rampant, systematic cheating and other security failures.
Projects he has overseen have resulted in decades of jail time for individuals whose wrongdoing the Reuters investigations have exposed.
Prior to joining Reuters, Blake served as the investigations editor, deputy enterprise editor and investigative reporter at USA TODAY. His investigation into the impact of industrial pollution on schoolchildren spurred the US government to launch a $2.25-million project to examine the air outside more than 60 schools across the nation. The reporting earned honours including the Grantham Prize, a Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism, the Fourth Estate Award, the America’s Promise Journalism Award, the Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting, the Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize, the John B. Oakes Award and the Philip Meyer Journalism Award. Before joining USA TODAY, Blake spent six years as a beat reporter, investigative reporter and editor at the St Paul Pioneer Press.
Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2025 Sessions
The Investigative Mindset
This interactive presentation is designed to reignite our curiosity and creativity in the field of investigative journalism.
Formulating Story Ideas: How to Structure Your Pitch
Building on lessons learned throughout the week, this final session will guide participants in crafting a compelling pitch that captures the essence of the story.
The Art of Interview:
This session will explore the techniques and strategies essential for conducting effective interviews. From developing a personal interviewing style to navigating difficult conversations.
What We Expect to Hear Tomorrow:
Learning how to refine and focus your story ideas to create pitches that resonate with editors and audiences alike.
Aldo, Enterprise on your Beat:
How to structure your time and approach to do ambitious reporting