Serena O’Sullivan is a Phoenix-based news reporter and content editor at KTAR News since 2023. Serena’s career includes roles as a reporter for Arizona Republic, Phoenix New Times and the Phoenix Business Journal. A Cronkite School graduate and SPJ award finalist, she also worked as a digital content coordinator, social media manager and freelance feature writer. Serena covers stories on politics, crime, policing, technology, education and more.
Expertise
- News writing
- Copy editing
- Radio reporting
- Project management
- Content strategy
Education
Arizona State University – Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in communications
Achievement & Awards
- First-generation college graduate
- Wrote cover story for Phoenix New Times in 2023
- Wrote cover story for Phoenix Business Journal in 2019
- Contributed to KTAR News’ regional Edward R. Murrow Award-winning newscast in 2024
Social media profiles
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 11, 2024Too doggone cute: Arizona Humane Society welcomes first puppy litter of 2024
A Pit bull terrier named Cookie gave birth to the Arizona Humane Society's first puppy litter of 2024, the nonprofit announced Wednesday.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 11, 2024Arizona Lottery player wins $240,000 Fantasy 5 jackpot
One Arizona lottery player won a six-figure Fantasy 5 jackpot on Tuesday.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 10, 2024Money launderer sentenced to prison for role in stealing nearly $5M from Arizona victim
A Maryland woman will spend four years in prison due to her role in laundering millions of dollars from scam victims, officials said.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 10, 2024Chandler woman in high-profile animal abuse case arrested on more felony charges
April McLaughlin, 48, faces felony charges for animal abuse, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell told reporters on Wednesday.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 10, 2024Gilbert Town Council approves teen violence subcommittee after heated debate
The Gilbert Town Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to create a new subcommittee to deal with the recent spike in teen violence in the East Valley.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 10, 2024Gilbert PD investigating 9 cases of teen violence, police chief tells town council
Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg said there are officially nine active teen violence cases. He also mentioned the "Gilbert Goons."
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 9, 2024Tom Horne wants Arizona schools to prove they teach students about Holocaust, sets deadline
Arizona Holocaust education is being put to the test as schools have until Jan. 24 to prove they're teaching students about genocides.
-
ARIZONA EDUCATION NEWS | Jan 9, 2024GOP slams Gov. Katie Hobbs’ stance on ESA accountability day of State of the State 2024 speech
Gov. Katie Hobbs delivered her State of the State 2024 speech on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. The GOP disagrees with some of her key goals.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 8, 2024Home health care company that operates in Arizona to pay $10 million in false claims case
Atlantic Home Health Care, which operated in Arizona, was accused of misusing funding to give kickback payments of up to $5,000.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 8, 2024Say hello to Arizona’s newest jaguar, Center for Biological Diversity says
A Friday announcement from the Center for Biological Diversity said there's a new jaguar in Arizona that hasn't been identified before.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 7, 2024Joe Arpaio running for Fountain Hills mayor again
Former sheriff Joe Arpaio Joe announced on Thursday he is running for Fountain Hills mayor again after an unsuccessful bid in 2022.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 7, 20241 in critical condition after Buckeye shooting
A man is in critical condition after a Buckeye shooting that took place around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, officials said.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 7, 20241 dead, 2 injured after house party shooting in southwest Phoenix
One person is dead after a house party shooting in Phoenix Sunday morning, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 6, 2024Preston Lord’s basketball coach honors his student’s memory
The head basketball coach at Combs High School honors Preston Lord, the 16-year-old who died after a teen gang attack on Oct. 28, 2023.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 5, 2024Arizona man fined for starting wildfire while target shooting
A 64-year-old man from Tucson was fined $180,000 for starting wildfires while target shooting in April of 2023, authorities said.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 5, 2024Goodwill set to open 13th thrift store in Mesa on Friday
Love shopping secondhand? There's a Goodwill thrift store set to open in Mesa this Friday. The first 150 guests will get a $5 gift card.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 4, 2024Phoenix police arrest teacher accused of having inappropriate relationship with student
Phoenix police arrested a Spanish teacher at the Arizona Conservatory for the Arts on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor, officials said.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 4, 2024Gilbert gang terrorizing kids, parents in East Valley, mental health advocate says
Violent teens known as the "Gilbert Goons" are prowling the East Valley and randomly attacking children, a mental health advocate said.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 4, 2024Phoenix City Council elects Debra Stark as new vice mayor
Vice Mayor Debra Stark was elected in a unanimous vote on Wednesday afternoon. She will replace Yassamin Ansari, who is running for Congress.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 3, 2024Volunteers needed for annual Valley point-in-time homelessness count
Maricopa County leaders need volunteers to collect data for its annual homelessness "Point in Time" count.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 3, 2024Gilbert chief of police says violence won’t be tolerated in wake of ‘Gilbert Goons’ attacks
Controversy erupted over the way police departments handled the Preston Lord homicide case. The Gilbert Chief of police spoke up on Wednesday.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 3, 2024Phoenix man explains how he survived 4 days in freezing cold forest while searching for treasure
While searching for treasure, a Phoenix man was stranded in a freezing cold forest for four days. Frozen White Castle burgers kept him fed.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 3, 2024Prescott mall gets new name after $2.5M renovation
Wondering where the Prescott Gateway Mall went? It's still there, but the new owners renamed it the Pine Ridge Marketplace.
-
ARIZONA NEWS | Jan 2, 2024DPS trooper injured by crash on Interstate 10 in downtown Phoenix
A DPS trooper was injured after a crash on the westbound lanes of the Interstate 10, triggering delays and shutdowns, officials say.