John Ferrugia
Encyclopedia
John Ferrugia, Investigative Reporter/ News Anchor (born 1951) has worked at KMGH-TV in Denver, Colorado since 1992. He is a former CBS News correspondent who, in the 1980’s, covered the White House; foreign and domestic assignments; and was a principal correspondent for the news magazine “West 57th”.
, Missouri. He attended Catholic grade school (St. Peter’s) and the public high school. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve (two years active duty in Europe) as a Navy journalist working for American Forces Radio and TV.
Ferrugia received a BJ from the University of Missouri School of Journalism (1975).
In 1977 Ferrugia moved to KCMO-TV in Kansas City where he established himself as a top investigative and political reporter. He received a Peabody Award in 1977 at age 26 for tracking flood damaged cars after a major flood in the Kansas City metro area. The results of his investigation were aired nationally on “The CBS Evening News”. He produced several other stories that aired on the “CBS Morning News” and, in 1980, caught the eye of executives at CBS News, including Chicago bureau chief Jack Smith, during his coverage of the National Political Conventions.
In 1980 Ferrugia was hired by CBS News Washington Bureau Chief Ed Fouhy. He was assigned to cover important domestic and international stories including the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan (live on Pennsylvania Avenue); the assassination attempt of Reagan in March 1980 and subsequent investigation; the kidnapping of a U.S. General (Dozier) in Italy by the Red Brigades terrorist group; and the civil war in Lebanon.
In 1982 Ferrugia was assigned to the White House (replacing veteran correspondent Nelson Benton) working with correspondents Leslie Stahl, and Bill Plante. In addition to his reporting for the “CBS Morning News” and the daily “syndicated” stories from the White House for CBS affiliates, Ferrugia filed reports for CBS Radio and produced a nationally aired “First Line Report” from the White House each week.
As a CBS White House Correspondent, Ferrugia' assignments included President Reagan at Economic Summits in London and Williamsburg; his trips to China, Korea, and South America; and the 1984 Presidential campaign that included an exclusive election night interview with the President on stage at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
In 1985 Ferrugia was named principal correspondent for the CBS News Magazine “West 57th”.
His colleagues included Meredith Vieira (now with NBC Today), Steve Kroft (now with “60 Minutes”), and Bob Sirott (now a Chicago news anchor). Ferrugia worked for Executive Producer Andrew Lack and Senior Producer Tom Yellin. He covered important national and international issues, including aspects of the Soviet war in Afghanistan
, the Mafia trials in Sicily, CIA sponsored propaganda in Pakistan, politics, and cutting edge cancer research in Japan. His investigative reports included medical fraud, inner city gangs and grey market prescription drugs.
Ferrugia moved to Denver in 1989 to anchor news (with former CNN anchor Reynelda Muse) and report for KCNC-TV where he was honored with a regional Emmy award for his investigation of the funding of violent skinhead groups in Colorado. He also produced a number of stories focused on educating the public about the AIDS virus.
Three years later he joined KMGH-TV where he initially anchored the mid-day news with co-anchor Anne Trujillo and continued to investigate issues of public policy. As the station's only investigative reporter, he worked alone, but in the late 1990s, the station hired investigative producer Jeff Harris (now KMGH-TV news director). Harris and station news director (now KMGH-TV General Manager) Byron Grandy built a team that now includes two producers, two investigative reporters, and a photojournalist-editor.
His two year investigation into deaths at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo in 2010 prompted an outside third-party review of the forensic unit where patients died; the resignation of the hospitals director; and a criminal grand jury investigation to determine whether some doctors and nurses were guilty of criminal neglect. The grand jury found the staff responsible for the death of a patient who was restrained face-down and suffocated. As a result of the death brought to light by the investigation, the Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services has banned the used of prone (face down) restraint in all CDHS funded facilities in Colorado.
He and the team that worked the stories (Producers Arthur Kane and Tom Burke, and photojournalist Jason Foster) earned a 2011 nationall Edward R. Murrow Award for the series. The reports have prompted major changes in state policies for dealing with the mentally ill in Colorado.
Ferrugia’s 2008 Peabody award-winning investigation into the deaths of several children in Denver lead to a statewide review of child welfare programs and a restructuring of Denver's Department of Human Services to better protect children at risk. (The investigative team on the series included producers Tom Burke and Arthur Kane and photojournalist Jason Foster.)
His team's investigation into sexual assaults of female cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003 and 2004 prompted Congressional hearings; a complete change in leadership at one of the world's most prestigious military institutions; and new initiatives for protecting and caring for sexual assault victims in the military. The investigation won 4 major national journalism awards including the duPont-Columbia and Peabody. (The team included producer Jeff Harris, producer Kurt Silver(who subsequently joined the FBI as a special agent), and photojournalist Jason Foster.)
These are just a few of many stories he has investigated that has forced changes in public policy, government or public safety.
Ferrugia's investigative reporting has been directly responsible for many new state laws and regulations.
His reports on child deaths in the humans services system prompted Colorado's legislature to consider and then pass major legislation that has led to the most sweeping changes in child welfare in the state's history. There is a new state ombudsman's office that can circumvent county human services departments to protect at risk children; mandatory reporters of child abuse must now be notified within 30 days as to the outcome of their complaints; and, there is a new caseworker training academy that insures all county caseworkers receive the same high level instruction to make sure all are accountable for their actions.
Ferrugia's reporting on "careless driving resulting in death" highlighted a meager 4-point traffic violation for causing a death while driving. His reports prompted a new law that requires a 12-point violation resulting in the suspension of the driver's license of anyone convicted of the offense.
The legislature passed new regulations in the state motor vehicle division removing many unnecessary appeals so drivers who have had their licenses suspended by a court must immediately surrender them and stay off the road. This legislation was passed after Ferrugia's stories showing the state's deadliest drivers remained on the road for months/years because of the antiquated appeals process and the backlog of required hearings.
Colorado real estate brokers must now have criminal background checks after Ferrugia's investigative reporting showed the many felons, some with sex offenses, had been licensed by the state. A hidden camera investigation showed these felons had access to buyer's financial information.
While his principle job is investigative reporting, Ferrugia has been involved in reporting major national stories for the past two decades, including the Columbine school killings and subsequent investigation; reporting from the courtroom of the Oklahoma City bombing trials; reporting from the floor of both Democratic and Republican National Conventions; and producing and reporting a series on Homeland Security after the 2001 terrorists attacks including his first person reports of humanitarian aide, flying over Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion.
Ferrugia has been a contributing correspondent to ABC’s "20/20" and "Good Morning America"; has contributed to several CNN broadcasts; and has appeared on "Oprah" detailing the results of the Air Force sex assault scandal.
He has been honored with television journalism's most prestigious awards including the DuPont-Columbia Award, three (3) George Foster Peabody Awards, a national Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Award, the National Headliner Award, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Award, a national Edward R. Murrow Award, and a regional Edward R. Murrow award for the documentary "Room 206: The Platte Canyon Shooting". He also received a National Emmy nomination for his work as a contributing correspondent to ABC News' "20/20"; has received more than a dozen regional Emmys as well as AP and Colorado and Missouri Broadcaster's awards; and he has been inducted into the National Academy of TV Arts and Science- Heartland Chapter "Silver Circle" for his career contribution to broadcasting.
Ferrugia also writes about wine and has traveled extensively in Italy and Sicily where he lived while in the Navy, working for American Forces Radio and TV in the early 1970’s. He is a skier and baseball fan, attending Rockies games regularly. He still plays baseball regularly and assists coaching a little league team.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/call7investigators/19063818/detail.html
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/2688910/detail.html
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/19232844/detail.html
http://www.showbizdata.com/news/32238/LOCAL-NEWS-TEAM-PRODUCES-I2020I-FEATURE
20Ferrugia&order=&method=unique
palins-mistakes/
Early life and education
Ferrugia grew up in FultonFulton, Missouri
Fulton is a city in Callaway County, Missouri, the United States of America. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,790 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Callaway County...
, Missouri. He attended Catholic grade school (St. Peter’s) and the public high school. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve (two years active duty in Europe) as a Navy journalist working for American Forces Radio and TV.
Ferrugia received a BJ from the University of Missouri School of Journalism (1975).
Professional career
After graduating from the University Of Missouri School Of Journalism in 1975, Ferrugia worked as a reporter/photojournalist at WTVT-TV in Tampa, Florida where he was a member of a team (including producer Ray Blush and photojournalist-editor Jewell McGee) that reported and filmed half-hour programs highlighting issues of public public importance. He was later briefly the city hall reporter.In 1977 Ferrugia moved to KCMO-TV in Kansas City where he established himself as a top investigative and political reporter. He received a Peabody Award in 1977 at age 26 for tracking flood damaged cars after a major flood in the Kansas City metro area. The results of his investigation were aired nationally on “The CBS Evening News”. He produced several other stories that aired on the “CBS Morning News” and, in 1980, caught the eye of executives at CBS News, including Chicago bureau chief Jack Smith, during his coverage of the National Political Conventions.
In 1980 Ferrugia was hired by CBS News Washington Bureau Chief Ed Fouhy. He was assigned to cover important domestic and international stories including the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan (live on Pennsylvania Avenue); the assassination attempt of Reagan in March 1980 and subsequent investigation; the kidnapping of a U.S. General (Dozier) in Italy by the Red Brigades terrorist group; and the civil war in Lebanon.
In 1982 Ferrugia was assigned to the White House (replacing veteran correspondent Nelson Benton) working with correspondents Leslie Stahl, and Bill Plante. In addition to his reporting for the “CBS Morning News” and the daily “syndicated” stories from the White House for CBS affiliates, Ferrugia filed reports for CBS Radio and produced a nationally aired “First Line Report” from the White House each week.
As a CBS White House Correspondent, Ferrugia' assignments included President Reagan at Economic Summits in London and Williamsburg; his trips to China, Korea, and South America; and the 1984 Presidential campaign that included an exclusive election night interview with the President on stage at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
In 1985 Ferrugia was named principal correspondent for the CBS News Magazine “West 57th”.
His colleagues included Meredith Vieira (now with NBC Today), Steve Kroft (now with “60 Minutes”), and Bob Sirott (now a Chicago news anchor). Ferrugia worked for Executive Producer Andrew Lack and Senior Producer Tom Yellin. He covered important national and international issues, including aspects of the Soviet war in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
, the Mafia trials in Sicily, CIA sponsored propaganda in Pakistan, politics, and cutting edge cancer research in Japan. His investigative reports included medical fraud, inner city gangs and grey market prescription drugs.
Ferrugia moved to Denver in 1989 to anchor news (with former CNN anchor Reynelda Muse) and report for KCNC-TV where he was honored with a regional Emmy award for his investigation of the funding of violent skinhead groups in Colorado. He also produced a number of stories focused on educating the public about the AIDS virus.
Three years later he joined KMGH-TV where he initially anchored the mid-day news with co-anchor Anne Trujillo and continued to investigate issues of public policy. As the station's only investigative reporter, he worked alone, but in the late 1990s, the station hired investigative producer Jeff Harris (now KMGH-TV news director). Harris and station news director (now KMGH-TV General Manager) Byron Grandy built a team that now includes two producers, two investigative reporters, and a photojournalist-editor.
His two year investigation into deaths at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo in 2010 prompted an outside third-party review of the forensic unit where patients died; the resignation of the hospitals director; and a criminal grand jury investigation to determine whether some doctors and nurses were guilty of criminal neglect. The grand jury found the staff responsible for the death of a patient who was restrained face-down and suffocated. As a result of the death brought to light by the investigation, the Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services has banned the used of prone (face down) restraint in all CDHS funded facilities in Colorado.
He and the team that worked the stories (Producers Arthur Kane and Tom Burke, and photojournalist Jason Foster) earned a 2011 nationall Edward R. Murrow Award for the series. The reports have prompted major changes in state policies for dealing with the mentally ill in Colorado.
Ferrugia’s 2008 Peabody award-winning investigation into the deaths of several children in Denver lead to a statewide review of child welfare programs and a restructuring of Denver's Department of Human Services to better protect children at risk. (The investigative team on the series included producers Tom Burke and Arthur Kane and photojournalist Jason Foster.)
His team's investigation into sexual assaults of female cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003 and 2004 prompted Congressional hearings; a complete change in leadership at one of the world's most prestigious military institutions; and new initiatives for protecting and caring for sexual assault victims in the military. The investigation won 4 major national journalism awards including the duPont-Columbia and Peabody. (The team included producer Jeff Harris, producer Kurt Silver(who subsequently joined the FBI as a special agent), and photojournalist Jason Foster.)
These are just a few of many stories he has investigated that has forced changes in public policy, government or public safety.
Ferrugia's investigative reporting has been directly responsible for many new state laws and regulations.
His reports on child deaths in the humans services system prompted Colorado's legislature to consider and then pass major legislation that has led to the most sweeping changes in child welfare in the state's history. There is a new state ombudsman's office that can circumvent county human services departments to protect at risk children; mandatory reporters of child abuse must now be notified within 30 days as to the outcome of their complaints; and, there is a new caseworker training academy that insures all county caseworkers receive the same high level instruction to make sure all are accountable for their actions.
Ferrugia's reporting on "careless driving resulting in death" highlighted a meager 4-point traffic violation for causing a death while driving. His reports prompted a new law that requires a 12-point violation resulting in the suspension of the driver's license of anyone convicted of the offense.
The legislature passed new regulations in the state motor vehicle division removing many unnecessary appeals so drivers who have had their licenses suspended by a court must immediately surrender them and stay off the road. This legislation was passed after Ferrugia's stories showing the state's deadliest drivers remained on the road for months/years because of the antiquated appeals process and the backlog of required hearings.
Colorado real estate brokers must now have criminal background checks after Ferrugia's investigative reporting showed the many felons, some with sex offenses, had been licensed by the state. A hidden camera investigation showed these felons had access to buyer's financial information.
While his principle job is investigative reporting, Ferrugia has been involved in reporting major national stories for the past two decades, including the Columbine school killings and subsequent investigation; reporting from the courtroom of the Oklahoma City bombing trials; reporting from the floor of both Democratic and Republican National Conventions; and producing and reporting a series on Homeland Security after the 2001 terrorists attacks including his first person reports of humanitarian aide, flying over Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion.
Ferrugia has been a contributing correspondent to ABC’s "20/20" and "Good Morning America"; has contributed to several CNN broadcasts; and has appeared on "Oprah" detailing the results of the Air Force sex assault scandal.
He has been honored with television journalism's most prestigious awards including the DuPont-Columbia Award, three (3) George Foster Peabody Awards, a national Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Award, the National Headliner Award, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Award, a national Edward R. Murrow Award, and a regional Edward R. Murrow award for the documentary "Room 206: The Platte Canyon Shooting". He also received a National Emmy nomination for his work as a contributing correspondent to ABC News' "20/20"; has received more than a dozen regional Emmys as well as AP and Colorado and Missouri Broadcaster's awards; and he has been inducted into the National Academy of TV Arts and Science- Heartland Chapter "Silver Circle" for his career contribution to broadcasting.
Ferrugia also writes about wine and has traveled extensively in Italy and Sicily where he lived while in the Navy, working for American Forces Radio and TV in the early 1970’s. He is a skier and baseball fan, attending Rockies games regularly. He still plays baseball regularly and assists coaching a little league team.
Personal
John Ferrugia has been married to his wife Mona since 1975. They have two children and live in Denver, Colorado.Sources
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- http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20093604,00.html
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/call7investigators/19063818/detail.html
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/2688910/detail.html
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/19232844/detail.html
http://www.showbizdata.com/news/32238/LOCAL-NEWS-TEAM-PRODUCES-I2020I-FEATURE
- http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_12045538
- http://www.tvrundown.com/0915s.pdf
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- http://www.academywomen.org/news/afa_8_dec_2003
- http://www.emmyawards.tv/silver_circle/john_ferrugia.php
- http://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=364
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20Ferrugia&order=&method=unique
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- http://www.nationalheadlinerawards.com/Winners2008Broadcast.html
- http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/05/kmghtv_denver_failing_the_chil.php
- http://www.ire.org/training/pastconferences/dc03/speakerBios.html
- http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5573253&page=1
- http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/11/19/young-journalists-can-learn-sarah-
palins-mistakes/
- http://www.denverpost.com/food/ci_4614024?source=email