Morgan Trau

I am an award-winning statehouse reporter for WEWS News 5 Cleveland, WCPO 9 News in Cincinnati, Scripps News and the Ohio Capital Journal.

I am known for holding politicians accountable. I dive deep into trending legislation, which includes issues surrounding democracy, abortion, education, LGBTQ+ and anything deemed a hot topic. I found my niche in reporting on growing culture wars and the balance of power in state government.

I specialize in long-form investigative pieces, consistently breaking original stories that earn national and international recognition. If I'm not breaking a story, my reports contain in-depth analysis of policy language and impact. My work has been cited in academic journals, testimonies and in legal petitions.

Before working at News 5, I was a political and investigative reporter in Michigan, the Washington/Idaho border and New York. My reporting has made legislative changes in each of the areas I have worked in. I have earned awards and honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, New York State Broadcasters Association, Hearst Journalism Awards and the Syracuse Press Club. My reporting has contributed to Emmy-award-winning newscasts.

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Cleveland and graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School as the Syracuse University Scholar - the highest honor given to any student. While in college, I spent my summers training as an investigator with 60 Minutes, CBS News and PBS NewsHour. When I'm not on a story, my schedule is full of speaking engagements at universities and schools, conferences or nonpartisan organizations.