KUT Hired Three Journalists for Expanded Coverage
The new staff members begin their roles this October to focus on investigative and multimedia reporting.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Language Learning
KUT Public Media has added three new journalists to its newsroom to bolster investigative work and expand reach across digital platforms. These hires aim to deepen the organization's community-focused reporting and visual storytelling.
Why it matters
By increasing its newsroom capacity, the organization seeks to provide more accountability reporting and explore issues relevant to older Central Texans. This expansion is designed to better engage listeners and readers on both social and digital platforms.
KUT has added three journalists to its newsroom, including a hire who previously spent 10 years at the Austin American-Statesman. These roles are part of an effort to expand visual and investigative capabilities.
The players
KUT Public Media
An Austin-based public radio station that provides news and programming.
Brian Diggs
The new visuals editor for KUT who formerly worked at the Austin American-Statesman.
Charlie Sharpe
A new reporter focusing on a yearlong project about the experiences of aging residents in Austin.
Toluwani Osibamowo
An investigative reporter joining KUT News and The Texas Newsroom.
The details
The new hires include Brian Diggs, who joined as visuals editor, investigative reporter Toluwani Osibamowo, and reporter Charlie Sharpe. Sharpe will lead a yearlong project titled The Long View: Aging in Young, Hip Austin. The team members bring experience from organizations such as KERA News and the Austin American-Statesman.
Timeline
Brian Diggs joined the KUT staff on September 30, 2026.
Charlie Sharpe began his reporting work on October 6, 2026.
Toluwani Osibamowo starts at KUT News and The Texas Newsroom on October 12, 2026.
The Texas Context
This staffing expansion marks a departure from the broader national and state trend of shrinking newsroom budgets. The move stands in contrast to the steady reduction in local news personnel that has reshaped media coverage across Texas.
Residents can expect to see new multimedia projects and investigative coverage beginning in the coming months. These hires will specifically influence the reporting on issues that affect long-term residents and local policy.
The takeaway
Keep an eye out for the upcoming yearlong project, The Long View: Aging in Young, Hip Austin, which will explore the city's shifting demographics. Readers can track this coverage as these reporters begin their investigative work.
Further reading
Learn more about the resources available to our community in the Language Learning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KUT.
