Mike Catalini

About Mike Catalini

I cover government and elections in New Jersey for the Associated Press. I\'m an…

Experience

1. Reporter

   The Associated Press

   Oct 2014 — Present · Trenton, NJ, US

   Team member on AP\'s Lethal Restraint investigation into police use of force, recognized in 2025 with Selden Ring Award special citation. Collaborated with colleague to uncover racial disparity in crime victim compensation awards. Covered COVID-19 outbreak, including using open records laws to show state government failed to release certain information about its response to the pandemic. Uncovered state human trafficking commission failed to issue reports and meet as required by law, leading to promise that it would resume its duties.Showed taxpayers picked up part of the tab for governor\'s trip to India despite administration saying a privately funded group would cover costs. Used public records to report on NJ\'s first-ever attempt at counting the number of lead pipes.Covering the administration of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Showed New Jersey environmental regulators failed to issue pollution enforcement reports despite a legal requirement, resulting in the governor promising to reissue them going forward.Found through a request for records that three former public officials convicted of corruption while in office got new government jobs despite a law barring it. Showed through records that Gov. Chris Christie\'s office and utility lobbyists worked together to craft a taxpayer-funded bailout of New Jersey\'s nuclear industry. Showed through records and interviews how Christie pushed a $300 million statehouse renovation through without public approval. Covered the government shutdown under Christie and the aerial photos that showed him lounging on the beach. Showed state lottery rewrote a contract with the private firm that runs part of its operations that benefits that firm over the 15-year contract. Showed how campaign spending paid for ads on Atlantic City and gambling but was really focused on electing lawmakers supportive of public unions\' positions on pensions.

Education

• Penn State University

  BA, Journalism, Italian (minor)

  2002 — 2006

• The Johns Hopkins University

  MA, Government

  2009 — 2012

Skills

• Feature Articles
• Editorial
• Multimedia
• Final Cut Pro
• News Writing
• Breaking News
• Editing
• Politics
• Newspapers
• Video Editing
• Headline Writing
• Online Journalism
• Storytelling
• Ap Style
• Newspaper
• Copy Editing
• Ap Stylebook
• Photojournalism
• Blogging
• Journalism