How Austin Became Home
Morgan J. Carter didn’t plan on becoming a journalist. Growing up in Waco, he studied political science at the University of Texas at Austin with vague ambitions toward law school. That changed during his junior year when he started writing for The Daily Texan to fill a schedule gap—and discovered he’d rather ask questions than argue cases.
After graduation in 2014, Morgan spent three years at the Waco Tribune-Herald covering county government and rural education, then moved to KVUE-TV in Austin as a digital producer and field reporter. That role took him into neighborhoods across Travis and Williamson counties, from the rapid-growth corridors of Pflugerville to the changing landscape of East Austin. His 2019 investigation into delayed permits at the Austin Development Services Department led to a City Council review and earned him a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Award for investigative reporting.
What He Covers Now
At News of Austin, Morgan focuses on city governance, housing policy, and the intersections where Austin’s growth collides with affordability. He’s tracked the I-35 expansion project since its earliest public meetings and has filed more open records requests with Austin Energy than he cares to count. He completed an Investigative Reporters and Editors data journalism workshop in 2021, which sharpened his approach to public records analysis and accountability reporting.
Beyond the Byline
When he’s not working sources at City Hall, Morgan referees youth soccer games in the Balcones District—a weekend commitment that keeps him connected to the families whose concerns often shape his reporting. He lives in the Crestview neighborhood with his wife, a Travis County public defender, and their perpetually unimpressed cat, Walter.
Stay Connected
Reach Morgan at: [email protected]