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Olivia Messer

Reporter at The Daily Beast

Olivia Messer is a veteran journalist and the current Editor-in-Chief of The Barbed Wire, a progressive, independent news outlet in Texas.1 She previously worked as a national reporter at The Daily Beast from December 2015 to February 2021, where she served as the lead COVID-19 reporter.3

Messer's career in journalism began with local reporting, including a fellowship at the Texas Observer during the 2013 state legislative session and a position at the Waco Tribune-Herald.1 Her coverage of the 2015 biker shooting in Waco earned her recognition, winning First Place for Deadline Writing from the Texas APME Awards in 2016.3

At The Daily Beast, Messer developed a reputation for her investigative skills and incisive reporting style.12 She covered various topics, with a particular focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing connections with top epidemiologists for her reporting.2

After leaving The Daily Beast, Messer returned to Texas to launch The Barbed Wire, aiming to create a publication that combines local relevance with national interest.1 Her vision for the outlet draws inspiration from early Gawker, The Daily Beast, and The Cut, seeking to provide bold and multifaceted coverage of Texas news.1

Messer is known for her commitment to challenging authority and shining a spotlight on important issues.1 She has also worked as a freelance editor, reporter, and consultant, focusing on investigative stories.4

Highlights

Feb 5 · twitter

EXCLUSIVE: Rice University’s famed horn professor William VerMeulen abruptly retired last spring amid sexual misconduct allegations. But dozens of students and industry insiders say “the administration has known for 30 years” — and failed to act.

https://t.co/mZpsKRm6zM

Nov 1 · twitter

The right really convinced some people that abortion rights are all about the right to seek an abortion.

I want the right to choose — or not — pregnancy. But I need people to hear this: The Texas women who died were just sick. They happened to be pregnant. Now they’re dead.

Related Questions

What inspired Olivia Messer to start The Barbed Wire?
How did Olivia Messer's reporting on the 2015 biker shooting impact her career?
What are some of the key investigative skills Olivia Messer developed at The Daily Beast?
How does Olivia Messer's vision for The Barbed Wire differ from traditional Texas journalism?
What challenges did Olivia Messer face when launching The Barbed Wire?
Olivia Messer
Olivia Messer, photo 1
Olivia Messer, photo 2
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Location

Brooklyn, New York