Nanci Wilson, Investigative Reporter

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Emmy award-winning journalist Nanci Wilson joined the KXAN team in 2009, creating Austin’s only dedicated investigative team.

Throughout her 21 years as a reporter, Wilson’s investigations have uncovered government corruption, abuse and numerous consumer problems, and some of her investigations have prompted changes in law and public policy.

In her short time at KXAN, Wilson has brought to light how the state was storing newborn blood samples without parents’ knowledge and consent and using those samples to barter with for-profit corporations for equipment, services, and cash.

She also uncovered the financial conflicts of interest behind a controversial treatment for depression recommended by the state of Texas, along with questionable influence by the pharmaceutical industry on the state’s mental health program.

She has been instrumental in KXAN’s investigation of Capital Metro’s delayed and overbudget MetroRail project and the controversy surrounding the agency’s financial practices.

Wilson’s work has been honored with two Emmy awards by the Lonestar Chapter of the National Television Arts and Sciences. Other honors include the prestigious National Journalism Award by the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Reporting, the Headliners Award for Investigative Reporting, the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors award, six Emmy nominations, and numerous awards by the Oklahoma and Texas Associated Press Broadcasters.

Wilson was also awarded a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship to study clinical data and evidence-based medicine at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and she was one of a select few journalists invited to participate in the National Judicial College’s course on media and the courts.

She began her career as an anchor at KXII-TV in Sherman, Texas and then became the co-executive producer and anchor of Texas Entertainment News, a statewide syndicated program. She went on to work for CBS.com, The News of Texas and KEYE-TV.

Her work has also been published in Redbook Magazine and several industry publications.

Wilson currently serves on the Board of Directors for Criminal Justice Journalists and is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors.

She is frequently invited to speak on issues relating to in-depth news coverage, internet research and media training, and holds a patent on a product designed to help reporters stay organized in the field.