Maria Moreira Rato
Cascais
Summary
Investigative journalist with 5 years of officially accredited professional experience and a strong background in human rights, health and gender-based violence reporting. Award-winning reporter with a proven ability to conduct long-form investigations, work ethically with vulnerable sources and deliver impactful public-interest journalism.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Investigative Writer
Comunidade Cultura e Arte
Lisboa
03.2020 - 01.2025
- Author of award-winning investigative series on female genital mutilation and on suicidal ideation among doctors, combining testimonies, expert analysis, and institutional data.
- Developed engaging content for various digital platforms and publications.
- Conducted thorough research to ensure accuracy and relevance of information.
- Collaborated with editors to refine articles and enhance readability.
- Edited and proofread submissions to maintain high-quality standards.
- Generated ideas for new topics based on current cultural trends and interests.
- Ensured that all written work met quality standards before submission deadlines.
- Generated ideas for new stories or topics to write about.
- Performed extensive research prior to writing any article or post.
- Applied strong writing, editing and proofreading abilities to each assignment to produce best possible content.
- Monitored current events for potential story ideas or topics relevant to company objectives.
- Organized and tracked multiple projects to meet tight deadlines.
- Maintained accurate records of all writing assignments completed.
- Proofread copy to check grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, and organization of material.
Journalist - Society Desk
Newsplex
10.2020 - 12.2024
- Reported on social affairs, health, justice, and human rights.
- Produced investigative and long-form stories, worked with confidential sources, and collaborated with editors and legal teams to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Researched and wrote in-depth articles on local events and issues.
- Conducted interviews with public figures and community members for feature stories.
- Edited and proofread content for clarity, grammar, and adherence to style guidelines.
- Collaborated with editors and photographers to produce cohesive news packages.
- Monitored breaking news and reported updates across multiple platforms quickly.
- Developed engaging social media content to promote articles and increase readership.
- Attended press conferences to gather information and report on key developments.
- Maintained strong relationships with sources to ensure accurate reporting of stories.
- Conducted interviews with sources to obtain information for stories.
- Wrote factually correct, concise, and engaging news stories within tight deadlines.
- Monitored local, national and international events for potential story ideas.
- Generated ideas for feature stories that would be compelling to readership audiences.
- Photographed or videotaped news events to provide visual coverage.
- Reviewed copy and corrected errors in content, grammar and punctuation by following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.
- Developed and pursued stories independently and for assignment, covering range of topics and events.
- Checked reference materials to obtain relevant facts.
- Assisted other journalists in researching complex topics or locating hard-to-find sources.
- Performed extensive research to back up stories.
- Submitted assignments ahead of deadlines while adhering to editorial guidelines.
- Discussed issues with editors to establish priorities or positions.
- SOL & i newspapers
Journalism Intern
Media Capital - TVI
Lisboa
10.2018 - 03.2019
- Assisted in reporting and production of national news stories
- Conducted interviews and background research for broadcast journalism
- Researched and wrote news articles for various media segments.
- Assisted in editing video content for broadcast and online platforms.
- Conducted interviews with community members and experts on relevant topics.
- Collaborated with reporters to gather information and verify facts.
- Attended editorial meetings, contributing ideas for upcoming stories and features.
- Monitored news trends to identify potential story opportunities for coverage.
- Evaluated potential sources for reliability before citing them in stories.
- Edited articles for grammar, punctuation, and accuracy of facts.
- Developed story ideas based on current events and trends in the media landscape.
- Conducted interviews with relevant individuals, such as politicians, academics, or industry experts.
- Monitored breaking news stories and alerted editors when updates were available.
Education
BA - Journalism
Higher School of Social Communication (ESCS)
Lisbon 09.2015 - 07.2018
Skills
- Investigative reporting
- Long-form journalism
- Human rights reporting
- Source protection
- Trauma-informed interviewing
- Fact-checking
- Editorial collaboration
- Digital publishing
- Content creation
- Digital media skills
- Research proficiency
- Time management
- Story development
- Cross-platform reporting
- Communication skills
- Collaboration skills
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability to change
- Breaking news coverage
- Fact-checking proficiency
- Interviewing techniques
- Legal understanding
- Research and fact-checking
- Writing and editing
- Public speaking
- Human interest content
- Storytelling
Languages
- Portuguese, C2
- English, C1
- Spanish, B1
- French, A2
Awards
- Journalism Prize in the Area of Pain, 2024
- APAV Journalism Prize, 2022
- Reporting in Palliative Care Award, 2025
Selected Investigations
- Female Genital Mutilation in Portugal (Part I & II)
- Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Among Doctors (Part I & II)
- Obstetric Violence in Portugal
- End-of-Life Ethics and Decision-Making
Personal Information
Available: Available for remote work across Europe
Certification
- Investigation and Non-Fiction Writing (CENJOR, 2020)
- Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists (The Johns Hopkins University, 2023)
- Understanding 9/11 (Duke University, 2025)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Journalist - Society Desk
Newsplex
10.2020 - 12.2024
Investigative Writer
Comunidade Cultura e Arte
03.2020 - 01.2025
Journalism Intern
Media Capital - TVI
10.2018 - 03.2019
BA - Journalism
Higher School of Social Communication (ESCS)
09.2015 - 07.2018