Katie Benner

Katie Benner
Born	Vermont, U.S.
Alma mater	Bowdoin College (BA, 1999)
Occupation	Journalist
Years active	2000s–present
Employer	The New York Times
Known for	Coverage of the United States Department of Justice, Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (2018)
Notable work	"Women in Tech Speak Frankly on the Culture of Harassment"

Katie Benner is an American journalist working for The New York Times, specializing in coverage of the United States Department of Justice.

Early life and education

Raised in Vermont, Benner pursued an English degree at Bowdoin College in Maine, graduating in 1999. Without a definite career direction at that time, she relocated to Beijing to teach English. During her stay, she contributed freelance articles to the Beijing Review, a publication recognized as a foreign mission by the State Department, reporting on a variety of subjects ranging from monastic communities to music. After the September 11 attacks, she compiled reports on how the events affected American expatriates and pitched this piece to the Portland Press Herald in Maine, utilizing contacts she had developed while working at a college deli. The acceptance of this story by the Press Herald marked the beginning of her journalism career in the United States.

Career

Benner’s initial role in U.S. media was as a reporter for CNN Money. Although she lacked formal experience in finance, she obtained the position by demonstrating strong determination and eagerness to learn. Subsequently, she spent seven years at Fortune in New York City, where she reported on topics such as financial markets, hedge funds, and private equity. After short periods as a staff writer—including an early departure from The Information—she joined Bloomberg as a technology columnist, focusing on the culture of Silicon Valley and producing a daily newsletter. This was followed by a repetitive assignment creating summaries of Jim Cramer's programs for TheStreet.

In 2015, Benner was recruited by The New York Times as a technology reporter with an emphasis on Apple. By 2017, she had moved to their Washington bureau covering the Justice Department. Her article "Women in Tech Speak Frankly on the Culture of Harassment" was part of a New York Times series that earned the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, exposing widespread sexual harassment within Silicon Valley. She also played a key role in revealing the Justice Department’s probe into allegations concerning Matt Gaetz’s sexual involvement with minors.

Benner has made appearances on prominent networks such as CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and on Marketplace Radio.

Work style

Recognized for her ability to dissect companies facing difficulties, Benner blends meticulous research with sharp insight. She relies on various messaging platforms to maintain swift communication and predominantly conducts her work using her iPhone.

Personal life

Based in Washington, D.C., Benner is married and serves as a trustee at Bowdoin College. She also enjoys knitting as a personal hobby.

Bibliography

• Benner, Katie. "Subprime contagion?" CNN Money, July 5, 2007
• Benner, Katie. "The $5 trillion mess," CNN Money, July 11, 2008
• Benner, Katie. "A Dyed-and-True Imprint," The New York Times, December 22, 2010
• Benner, Katie. "Michael Dell's dilemma," Fortune, June 13, 2011
• Benner, Katie. "Trump and Justice Dept. Lawyer Said to Have Plotted to Oust Acting Attorney General," The New York Times, January 22, 2021
• Benner, Katie and Michael S. Schmidt. "Justice Dept. Inquiry Into Matt Gaetz Said to Be Focused on Cash Paid to Women," The New York Times, April 1, 2021