Meg Kissinger

Meg Kissinger is an acclaimed American investigative journalist and author renowned for her in-depth reporting on public health, mental illness, and social welfare systems. Her career, primarily with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, has been defined by a commitment to exposing systemic failures and advocating for vulnerable populations. Kissinger's work has earned some of journalism's highest honors and culminated in a powerful memoir that intertwines her professional investigations with her family's personal tragedies.

Early life and education

Kissinger grew up in a large family in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, Illinois, an experience that would later deeply inform her reporting and writing. She pursued her higher education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she earned her degree. Her early interest in storytelling and social issues was nurtured during her college years, setting the foundation for a career dedicated to investigative journalism that gives voice to the marginalized and holds institutions accountable.

Career

Kissinger spent the majority of her distinguished career as an investigative reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the Gannett newspaper chain. She built a national reputation for meticulous, long-form projects that often focused on the intersection of government policy and individual suffering. A seminal series, "A Time to Heal," investigated deaths within Milwaukee County's mental health system, leading to significant reforms. Another major investigation exposed dangerous flaws in the oversight of the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Her reporting frequently brought to light crises within facilities like the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex and scrutinized the practices of corporations and state agencies, influencing public policy and legislative action in Wisconsin and beyond.

Awards and recognition

Kissinger's journalism has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. She is a two-time winner of the George Polk Award, one of the most coveted honors in the field, for her investigations into mental health care and product safety. She has also received the Gerald Loeb Award for distinguished business and financial journalism. Her work earned the National Journalism Award from the Scripps Howard Foundation, and she has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize on multiple occasions. These accolades underscore her status as one of the nation's leading investigative reporters.

Personal life

Kissinger's personal history is inextricably linked to her professional focus. She has spoken openly about how the suicides of her brother and sister, and her family's broader struggles with mental illness and addiction, fueled her determination to investigate systemic failures in mental health care. This profound personal connection to her subject matter adds a layer of depth and urgency to her reporting. She resides in Milwaukee, continuing her advocacy and writing.

Works

Beyond her extensive body of newspaper journalism, Kissinger is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir *While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence* (Celadon Books, 2023). The book weaves together the story of her own family's tragedies with her investigative work on America's broken mental health system. It has been praised by publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post and recognized as a notable work by the American Library Association. The memoir expands upon themes central to her reporting career, offering a powerful synthesis of personal narrative and public service journalism.

Category:American journalists Category:American non-fiction writers Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni