The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
MEET OLIVIA EVANS
What’s your role at the Courier Journal?
I am a business reporter and focus on all the fun and exciting things impacting Kentucky workers. Some areas I focus on include Kentucky business and industry trends, Louisville area major employers, cannabis and other labor and workforce trends.
Give us a brief history of your journalism career
I’ve been a full-time professional journalist for my hometown paper since August 2022 but I like to think I’ve been practicing my journalism skills since I was in third grade. On a field trip to JA Biztown, the career I was randomly assigned was a journalist, and I found it fun and compelling. In high school, I worked at the daily news organization at duPont Manual where I won several student journalism awards. At the University of Missouri School of Journalism, I had several internships at places including Forbes, Politico, the Columbia Missourian, Missouri Business Alert, and Vox Magazine.
Tell us about your day-to-day
I usually start my day by going through news alerts from around the country regarding the major employers and unions in the Louisville area looking for any prominent trends or stories I need to dive into. After that, I spend time emailing contacts, scheduling interviews, doing research for stories I’m working on, and checking in with my regular business sources to see what’s new in their world. I typically spend anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours each day drafting or writing stories.
While I benefit from some of the cyclical nature of business reporting, it’s not always predictable. Last year I spent numerous days covering the strike line outside of Ford Motor Co., driving to Frankfort or Lexington for legislative coverage, and running around to different business interest meetings to connect with industry leaders.
What’s your biggest accomplishment or something you are most proud of while working at the CJ?
Two things come to mind. First, I was the first reporter in the nation to publish a story about the Teamsters and UPS reaching a tentative agreement in July. This is a moment I was very proud of because it took months of deep sourcing, building strong relationships, and strategically preparing for when an announcement could be made on the contract.
Second, I spent the better part of a year researching the national veterinarian shortage and its impacts on rural Kentucky. I spent hours with farmers, vets, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to understand the full depth of the problem and how it impacts our daily lives, in ways many people might not realize. What made me the most proud of the series was the level of humanity I brought to this story. One vet thanked me for reporting about the shortage because, while it has been an issue for many in the industry for decades, he said nobody listened until I showed up.
What’s cool or fun that you want people to know about you?
I’m a retired Division I Track and Field athlete where I threw hammer and weight. I always wanted to be a college athlete and thought basketball was going to be my pathway there, but one of my middle school coaches encouraged me to try out for track in sixth grade, and 11 years later, I finally hung up my throwing shoes.
Bonus: What kind of interesting things can readers expect from you in the next month?
Kentucky Derby 150 is just around the corner, and I have one story planned that follows up on the vet shortage, but with a focus on horses. Aside from the Derby, and all the fun associated with it, a colleague and I have also been reporting on Kentucky’s role in the future of the electric vehicle industry, so stay tuned for that.
“Kentucky Derby 150 is just around the corner, and I have one story planned that follows up on the vet shortage, but with a focus on horses.”
Olivia Evans