Politics & health reporter, @heraldleader. @propublica LRN fellow. Past: @bangordailynews, @the_forecaster. @report4america, @SaltInstitute, @WKU alum | she/her
Kentucky
Joined December 2014
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Hey all, I was one of the reporters laid off yesterday at the @heraldleader .
I came to the H-L in 2019 as a Report for America fellow covering public health in Eastern Ky. To say it has been a privilege reporting in my home state is an understatement.
bit.ly/4r9sN6s
Alex Acquisto retweeted
Today is my last day at the Lexington Herald-Leader. After seven-ish years as a journalist in my home state of Kentucky & more than four on this wonderful team, I'm embarking on a new (and unknown) chapter.
But first, I'd like to recap some of my favorite work for @heraldleader.
Alex Acquisto retweeted
Cam is simply the best. Crazy smart, curious, a huge heart & some of the best "energy" a guy has ever had. This is a consensus opinion, but worth restating.
It'll be a loss for the H-L, but I know my own life is much richer for having Cam in it. He'll be great wherever he lands.
Alex Acquisto retweeted
Join Bill Bryant @kynewsmakers for Comment on Kentucky as he talks with @AcquistoA of @heraldleader, @MarioAndersonTV of @SpectrumNews1KY and @TFaulknerWPSD of @WPSDLocal6. Tune in at 8 pm on KET.
It's been a little over a week since McClatchy's mass layoffs. I wrote about what's at stake when communities lose local journalists.
McClatchy laid me off. The need for local journalism didn’t go with me. poynter.org/commentary/2026/…
Alex Acquisto retweeted
A week after McClatchy laid off journalists nationwide, the newspaper chain announced their replacements:
Editors for a new “innovation lab” focused on AI-generated lifestyle articles.
“Celebrating Our Team,” execs wrote in an email about the hires.
san.com/cc/inside-a-newspape…
Alex Acquisto retweeted
Several of the Herald-Leader journalists who were laid off are relatively recent hires who will have minimal severance as they face unemployment heading into Q4.
If you are able to help and feel so inclined, this was established by one of our colleagues.
Last week, half of my coworkers at the Lexington Herald-Leader were laid off. Veteran reporters who have been here for 25 years along with recent hires who moved to Kentucky in the last year for the job were let go.
If you can, please consider:
gofund.me/0aa1a04a2
Alex Acquisto retweeted
How lucky we were to have Alex’s thoughtful reporting and beautiful writing serving Kentucky for years. She produced some of the H-L’s best feature work, both in long form and breaking. Wherever she lands will be much better for it, so if you have an opening, pick her.
Hey all, I was one of the reporters laid off yesterday at the @heraldleader .
I came to the H-L in 2019 as a Report for America fellow covering public health in Eastern Ky. To say it has been a privilege reporting in my home state is an understatement.
bit.ly/4r9sN6s
Alex Acquisto retweeted
This is a huge hit to Kentucky. Alex is one of the most gifted, thorough & thoughtful writers working anywhere.
I've seen it up close in The Trenches* – she is the reporter you want tackling your thorniest issues.
KY is better off for her work and it will be worse off without.
Hey all, I was one of the reporters laid off yesterday at the @heraldleader .
I came to the H-L in 2019 as a Report for America fellow covering public health in Eastern Ky. To say it has been a privilege reporting in my home state is an understatement.
bit.ly/4r9sN6s
Alex Acquisto retweeted
Piper is whip-smart, a gifted writer and a fantastic human. She'd be an asset to any work place.
Alex Acquisto retweeted
Yesterday, McClatchy laid off more than 90 unionized media workers across 17 publications.
The departure of these talented reporters, visual journalists & writers will immediately leave gaping holes in local coverage for dozens of communities across the US.
Alex Acquisto retweeted
It just blows my mind the more I learn about the positions being cut.
City council reporters. Statehouse and environmental reporters. Accountability positions, when so many other companies are finding ways to stay profitable without abandoning what this profession is all about.
Several of my friends and many more of my colleagues were laid off today by McClatchy. I really despise what many corporate media companies are doing to local journalism. lpm.org/news/2026-09-10/mccl…
Alex Acquisto retweeted
"The eliminated positions include seven news reporters, three sports reporters, two visual journalists and one editor. This currently leaves the Herald-Leader with just two reporters to cover city and state government." lpm.org/news/2026-09-10/mccl…
Alex Acquisto retweeted
Several of my friends and many more of my colleagues were laid off today by McClatchy. I really despise what many corporate media companies are doing to local journalism. lpm.org/news/2026-09-10/mccl…
Alex Acquisto retweeted
Just terrible. The Herald-Leader is my hometown paper. I was lucky to grow up in a city that had the Herald-Leader looking out for it. Later in life, I was lucky to learn from the talented journalists who worked there. Kentucky and Lexington are worse off because of this decision
McClatchy laid off 12 journalists at the Lexington Herald-Leader, a majority of its positions, as a part of its deep, nationwide layoffs. lpm.org/news/2026-09-10/mccl…
Alex Acquisto retweeted
Today, I received notice that my last day with the Herald-Leader will be Sept. 25 as part of a corporate-wide restructuring. I want everyone to know my time covering high school sports has been a gift. This is not goodbye. The next chapter begins soon . Let’s go
Alex Acquisto retweeted
I have some news, and it’s not news I was hoping to share: My position was one of 12 layoffs at the Herald-Leader today.
I’ll have more to say later. For now: thanks to all the sources, readers, etc who read my work in Kentucky politics. I’ve really loved covering this scene.
Alex Acquisto retweeted
All good things must come to an end, and that includes my time at the Lexington Herald-Leader.
I don’t have anything profound to say now, but I want to put out there what an honor and privilege it has been to cover my home state with this incredible crew.
Alex Acquisto retweeted
My job at the Herald-Leader was eliminated yesterday; my last day will be Sept. 25. I’m grateful for the years I had. A vet once told me you’re not a real sportswriter until you get laid off, so I'm feeling hopeful about whatever's next.
You can reach me at [email protected]
