UC alumna kicks off new career at The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kelsey Conway breaks ground as Bengals first female lead reporter

By Rebecca Schweitzer

When Kelsey Conway came to visit the University of Cincinnati before her freshman year, she had no clue that she would be returning to the same city seven years after her graduation to work for The Cincinnati Enquirer and to break ground as the first female lead reporter for the Bengals.

“The fact that I am now back in the same city where it all started for me essentially in my journey to being a sports reporter is just incredible on so many levels,” Conway said.

Conway’s interest in sports coverage, along with her own skills as a lacrosse player, guided her to UC and into the College of Arts and Sciences Journalism Department. Conway graduated with a degree in journalism and minor in electronic media in 2014. 

A&S Journalism alumna and lead Bengals reporter Kelsey Conway

A&S Journalism alumna and lead Bengals reporter Kelsey Conway

During her time at UC, Conway funneled her love of sports into the women's lacross team, for whom she played for four years, and internships within the athletic department and for GoBearcats.com. 

“The internships I had were very beneficial to me in terms of learning on the fly,” Conway said. “But you have to have a foundation from somewhere, and I got that from the UC Journalism Department.”

Conway has covered two NFL teams since her graduation. She now joins the staff at the Enquirer as its Cincinnati Bengals beat reporter. 

“This job at The Enquirer is everything I wanted and more,” Conway said. “The priority that the Enquirer puts Bengals coverage means so much to me because I know that my reporting is going to be read by passionate Bengals fans that have been reading the Bengals coverage for years.”

In addition to writing articles covering the Bengals, Conway has joined the Enquirer’s podcast, Bengals Beat, co-hosting alongside fellow Bengals reporter Charlie Goldsmith. Through this form of media, they are able to connect with fans that don’t have time to read about the updates happening with the team. 

“People consume news in all different ways,” Conway said. “Podcasts allow more freedom. They are supposed to be conversational. They are supposed to be fun and engaging and give you information in a conversation that you enjoy listening to. The podcast just allows you to connect with the audience on a more personal, engaging level.”

As Conway begins this new chapter of her career, she is thankful to be back in the city that she grew to love so much as a student. 

“I know how big a position it is and to come to work every day and know that people depend on my reporting to connect them to their favorite team is such a cool feeling,” Conway said. “It motivates me every day.”

Featured photo at top: A&S Journalism alumna and lead Bengals reporter Kelsey Conway playing lacross for UC.

Related Stories

2

OTR mural celebrates UC alumni success

April 4, 2025

The UC Alumni Association, UCAA, will mark its annual Alumni Celebration during its upcoming Alumni Week, April 7-13, with a community art project commemorating this year’s slate of alumni honorees receiving the organization’s top awards.

3

UC Journalism to host Hall of Fame, Young Alumni Awards

Event: April 24, 2025 6:00 PM

The College of Arts and Sciences’ journalism department will host the Hall of Fame and Young Alumni Awards to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of its graduates. Induction into the UC Journalism Hall of Fame is a special honor reserved for UC alumni who have excelled in the profession of journalism and media, or individuals who have made a significant contribution to journalism at UC.

Debug Query for this