Kim Rafferty became a multimedia journalist with NewsChannel 5 in September 2024. She relocated to Nashville after her family was displaced from New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
Since then, Kim has come to consider Nashville her home. She realized journalism was the path she wanted to pursue when she witnessed its vital role during Hurricane Katrina. During high school and college, Kim spent each summer teaching youth sailing on Old Hickory Lake after learning to sail in New Orleans. Kim graduated from Lipscomb Academy and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
While attending UT, Kim worked as a photographer and editor at WBIR 10 News. She spent over four years as a multimedia journalist with WSAZ NewsChannel 3 in West Virginia, covering murders, trials, and crime. However, storytelling that sparked positive change and helped her community drove her passion for journalism.
One notable story involved her coverage of a high-fatality intersection in Logan County. Following her reporting, the state road department installed a traffic light at that location, ultimately saving lives. Kim also reported on the tragic coal plant collapse in Martin County, Kentucky, and the W.Va. line-of-duty deaths of Deputy Tom Baker and Sgt. Cory Maynard.
Thrilled to be back home, Kim believes that telling stories at NewsChannel 5 is the most rewarding. During her downtime, she enjoys discovering rollerblading spots, spending time with her cat, Kix, and exploring new restaurants.
