Nate Monroe (born 1988) is an American journalist employed by The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Florida, known for his investigative reporting on local government and public utilities.[1]
Nate Monroe | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1988 (age 35–36) United States |
| Alma mater | Louisiana State University |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Employer | The Florida Times-Union |
| Known for | Investigative reporting on attempted sale of JEA |
| Spouse | Erin Kourkounis |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Frances DeVore Award for Public Service, Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting, Sigma Delta Chi award for column writing |
Early life and education
editMonroe, born in Independence, Missouri, moved to Uptown New Orleans as a child and later grew up in Slidell, a suburb of New Orleans. He attended Louisiana State University, where he graduated in 2010 with a degree in mass communication and media studies.[2]
Career
editMonroe's journalism career began in southern Louisiana at the Daily Comet in Thibodaux.[3] His time there overlapped with the BP oil spill and its fallout. He then covered local government at the Pensacola News Journal.[3] In 2013, he joined The Florida Times-Union as a beat and investigative reporter covering Jacksonville City Hall and the public utilities.[3] In 2019, he became a metro columnist for the newspaper. His reporting has included coverage of significant local issues and controversies, such as the JEA and Lot J incidents.[3]
In 2022, Monroe was the subject of surveillance by a consulting firm working for Florida Power & Light during the JEA sale attempt.[4] This incident garnered national attention, raising concerns about corporate espionage, journalists' privacy, and media freedom.[5]
Monroe's JEA reporting about the attempted sale of the utility sparked a federal prosecution of JEA executives.[6] Those executives cited Monroe's widespread influence in Jacksonville when asking a court to move their cases outside of the city.[7] Monroe's personal experiences, including the surveillance incident involving his family and pet rat terrier, were reported in various publications.[8]
Professional Impact and Recognition
editMonroe's work as a journalist, especially his coverage of Jacksonville's City Hall and various local controversies, has established him as a significant figure in the Jacksonville political sector.[9] His reporting, noted for its depth and impact, has been recognized in local publications such as Folio Weekly. This publication highlighted Monroe's influential columns and the significant role they play in shaping public discourse and understanding of local political issues.[10]
Nate Monroe has been repeatedly recognized as the "Best Local Newspaper Columnist" in Northeast Florida, a title conferred by Folio Weekly. This accolade, most recently awarded in January 2023, acknowledges Monroe's influential role as a metro columnist at The Florida Times-Union.[11]
His investigative work has been recognized with multiple awards, such as the Frances DeVore Award for Public Service,[12] the Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting,[12] and a national Sigma Delta Chi award for column writing.[13]
Personal life
editMonroe and his wife have a son and a pet rat terrier.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Nate Monroe". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "2020-2021 Annual Report" (PDF). LSU Manship School of Mass Communication. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ a b c d Monroe, Nate; Hong, Chris (2018). "As The Ocean Creeps In". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Bauerlein, David (June 24, 2022). "'Unsettling,' 'un-American': FPL consultant obtained personal information, surveillance photo of journalist Nate Monroe". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Ariza, Mario Alejandro; Martin, Annie (June 24, 2022). "A Florida power company didn't like a journalist's commentary. Its consultants had him followed". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Schindler, Anne (2022-03-09). "'I think a lot of people are breathing a sigh of relief': JEA Indictments". First Coast News. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "Defendant Aaron Zahn's Motion for Intradistrict Transfer". CourtListener. United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ a b Marlette, Andy (July 1, 2022). "FPL stoops to stalking dogs in Jacksonville? They've gone too far this time!". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Schorsch, Peter (September 23, 2022). "Here is the 2022 edition of The INFLUENCE 150: The most influential people in Florida politics". Florida Politics. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Aloszka, John (February 23, 2021). "Nate Monroe Didn't Start the Fire". Folio Weekly. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "Best Local Newspaper Columnist: Nate Monroe". Folio Weekly. January 25, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ a b Staff (January 24, 2022). "Times-Union takes top honors at Florida Press Club Awards for reporting on attempted JEA sale". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "2019 Sigma Delta Chi Award Honorees". Retrieved 2023-12-18.