Hey there! I'm Maria: a journalist at heart and a passionate storyteller

My name is Maria Moreira Rato and I hold a degree in Journalism from Escola Superior de Comunicação Social, in Lisbon. I was just four years old when I first saw the news coverage of 9/11 — and even then, something clicked. I knew I wanted to give a voice to those who didn’t have one.

At 18, I chose communication as a path and, by 21, I was writing and editing at 8ª Colina, contributing to Made In ESCS and managing ESCS MAGAZINE. I also created the interview section "À conversa com…” for Uniarea and wrote regularly for Panorama.

From 2018 to 2019, I trained as a journalist at TVI, working in the Society newsroom and alongside investigative reporter Ana Leal. That same year, I joined the content team at SOL and i newspapers, where I later returned in October 2020 as a Society reporter — staying until December 2024. I also had the opportunity to write for Público and Comunidade Cultura e Arte. Along the way, I was honored with journalism awards that recognized both my writing and investigative work.

Though I’m no longer practicing journalism at the moment, the heart of a reporter remains in me: I’m driven by curiosity, storytelling and a deep need to uncover and share what matters. Amália Rodrigues once sang “Foi por vontade de Deus que eu vivo nesta ansiedade” — and I, too, live in the beautiful tension of seeking stories worth telling.

I may not know exactly where I’m headed next, but I do know this: being a writer and investigative storyteller will always be my compass.