Bill Moushey is one of the pre-eminent investigative journalists in the United States. An expert on crime and punishment issues, he won the prestigious 1997 National Press Club’s Freedom of Information Award (only two awarded in the world). Among many other awards, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1997 for his groundbreaking expose of an out-of-control federal witness protection program. In 1998, Moushey’s “Win at all Costs,” a searing look at misconduct by federal agents and prosecutors, won local, regional and national awards for documenting how overzealous officials have repeatedly broken the law in their zeal to enforce it. Among many other ground-breaking probes Moushey has completed over the past 30 years have been detailed looks into organized crime and stories that resulted in the first impeachment of a sitting Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice and the conviction of a Pittsburgh City Council president. He has exposed deplorable health-care conditions in the Pennsylvania prison system and abuses in the handling of the mentally ill. He has done this work for newspapers, television, radio and magazines.
A native of Canton, Ohio, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Kent State University and his Master of Science in criminal justice administration from Point Park University.
Moushey is an associate professor of journalism at Point Park, teaching classes in investigative reporting, media law and other subjects. In 2001, he started the Innocence Institute of Point Park University, where he formed a reporting curriculum to investigate allegations of wrongful convictions in Western Pennsylvania.
Since 2001, the Innocence Institute has been involved in 17 cases that have either been reopened or reversed. More than 100 students have participated in the program that has resulted in more than 250 by-line stories in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and numerous local, regional and statewide awards for its work.
In 2009, Moushey published “Never Give Up,” the inspiring story of how James Harrison rose from an undrafted free agent to stardom as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It has enjoyed regional success. A wide assortment of his award winning newspaper and innocence project work can be found on any Internet search engine, at www.post-gazette.com, or www.innocenceinstitute.org.
Professional Experience
- Professor, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Point Park University, 2001-present
- Director, Innocence Institute of Point Park University, 2001-present
- Investigative Reporter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (daily circulation 254,000, Sunday 455,000), 1985-present
- McGinnis Distinguished Lecturer, Point Park University, 2000
- Part-time Instructor, University of Pittsburgh Writing Program, 1987-2000
- Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh Writing Program, 1988
- Radio personality, WDVE-102.5-FM, Pittsburgh Morning Show, 1992-1994
- Investigative Reporter, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh (NBC affiliate), 1979-1984
- Editor, Pittsburgh Magazine, a monthly regional magazine (circulation 30,000), 1978-1979
- Assistant Editor, Cleveland Magazine, a monthly regional magazine (circulation 60,000), 1977-1978
- Staff Writer, Photographer, Bureau Chief, Dover-New Philadelphia (Ohio) Times-Reporter (circulation 50,000), 1976-1977
Education
- M.S., Criminal Justice Administration, Point Park University
- B.A., Journalism, (minor in telecommunications), Kent State University
Moushey has also attended and presented at numerous schools, conferences and conventions related to journalism, writing, crime and punishment, and other issues.
Contact:
Email: bmoushey@pointpark.edu
Office phone: 412-392-3416
Office: 1012 Thayer Hall
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