When Kathleen Ortiz arrived at Rice University, she wasn’t sure if journalism would remain part of her life. A senior majoring in social policy analysis and sport management, Ortiz said she originally wanted to carve out an academic identity apart from her journalist parents — her mother, a high school journalism teacher and former reporter, and her father, the founder of a media company and longtime Houston Chronicle sports reporter.
“I was worried that I only liked journalism because my parents did,” Ortiz said. “So I chose Rice, a place where I could pursue public policy and sport management but also come back to journalism if I missed it. And I did.”
That pull was undeniable. After writing a single story for The Rice Thresher as a freshman, Ortiz soon found herself immersed again. By her sophomore year she was covering sports, then she progressed to editing the section and eventually rose to her current position of editor-in-chief. Along the way, she secured scholarships from the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP) and the Sports Journalism Institute (SJI), affirming her path.
Growing up in a newsroom
Ortiz’s roots in journalism run deep. As a child, she trailed her parents on assignments — her mother covering the Houston Texans, her father the Astros.
“Since I was 5, I thought journalism was the coolest thing ever,” she said. “I even wrote my own Olympic reports in notebooks as a kid.”
High school solidified that passion. With her mother as her journalism teacher, Ortiz won multiple awards, including runner-up for Texas High School Journalist of the Year, but her decision to choose Rice over Northwestern University’s renowned Medill School for Journalism reflected a broader vision.
“Journalism is changing. I wanted the flexibility to study policy and sport management to understand the people and industries I’d eventually cover,” she said.
Representing heritage, building community
This month during Hispanic Heritage Month, Ortiz reflects on her identity as a Mexican American and woman in sports journalism — both underrepresented in the field. Her parents faced challenges breaking barriers: her mother entering locker rooms as one of few women reporters, and her father confronting inequities in sports hiring practices.
Those lessons, combined with the support of organizations like HAHMP, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and SJI, have shaped her perspective.
“These groups make you feel like you belong. You walk in knowing everyone is rooting for you — something you don’t always feel in a newsroom,” she said.
Leading The Rice Thresher
Under her leadership, The Thresher has expanded from 12 to 16 pages each week, regaining momentum lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ortiz emphasizes not just producing high-quality reporting for the Rice community but also mentoring peers in the absence of a formal journalism program.
“My goal is to help writers and editors grow professionally. At Rice, you don’t need a journalism major to succeed in this field,” she said. “We’re proof of that.”
Looking ahead
Ortiz said she is carefully considering her next steps — from internships to graduate programs and fellowships — but all roads lead back to journalism.
“Right now, I’m focused on week-to-week deadlines. After graduation, I’ll weigh my options and see where I fit best,” she said.
As the industry grapples with technological shifts, including artificial intelligence (AI), Ortiz is both cautious and hopeful.
“AI isn’t a tool we use at The Thresher. Accuracy comes from our own reporting, but I believe there’s still space for strong, truthful journalism,” she said.
For now, Ortiz continues balancing policy classes, sport management studies and the relentless pace of student journalism. What remains constant is her commitment to telling stories — a legacy that began in childhood, was nurtured by family and is now sustained by her own determination.