Marisa Kwiatkowski Delivered Joe Creason Lecture

The Knight Foundation director shared insights from her investigative career in Lexington.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Gymnastics

Bold flat-color editorial illustration featuring a circular lens above vertical geometric forms, evoking the meticulous process of investigative journalism. — Knight Foundation journalism director Marisa Kwiatkowski discussed her investigative work, including the USA Gymnastics abuse case, during the 2026 Joe Creason Lecture. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Marisa Kwiatkowski, director of journalism at the Knight Foundation, delivered the 2026 Joe Creason Lecture at the University of Kentucky. The event was held at the Worsham Cinema to highlight her career in investigative reporting.

Why it matters

Kwiatkowski is best known for her role in the investigative team that uncovered the systemic abuse within USA Gymnastics involving Larry Nassar. Her lecture provided an inside look at how high-stakes investigative journalism is conducted and verified.

The investigative team relied on 1,000 pages of documents to substantiate their findings during the USA Gymnastics probe. Kwiatkowski brings this experience to her current role following a career spanning nearly two decades.

The players

Marisa Kwiatkowski

She serves as the director of journalism at the Knight Foundation and formerly worked as an investigative reporter at The Indianapolis Star.

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

This institution hosted the Joe Creason Lecture at the Worsham Cinema in Lexington.

The details

Kwiatkowski detailed how the investigation into USA Gymnastics and Larry Nassar required months of verifying allegations and interviewing survivors. The process began with a single tip that eventually led to a massive, long-term review of institutional records.

September 30, 2026: Marisa Kwiatkowski delivered the Joe Creason Lecture.

Season Trajectory

The lecture marks a continued focus on accountability journalism in the wake of the 2016 Indianapolis Star investigation into USA Gymnastics. This retrospective analysis highlights how such high-impact stories reshape institutional oversight and media standards across the country.

Readers can understand the rigorous verification process required to break major stories involving national sports organizations. The lecture clarified how months of survivor interviews and document analysis serve as the foundation for ethical, evidence-based reporting.

The takeaway

Investigative success relies on a painstaking commitment to verifying every document and testimonial over many months. This approach ensures that complex allegations are handled with the necessary accuracy and respect for those affected.