Tom Ferrick
Encyclopedia
Tom Ferrick, Jr. is senior editor of Metropolis, a local news and information site based in Philadelphia that debuted in December, 2009. Prior to that, Ferrick worked as a reporter, editor and columnist
with the Philadelphia Inquirer. He had been a columnist at the Inquirer since 1998 but left the newspaper in 2008. The Philadelphia native has spent nearly 40 years as a journalist
, focusing mostly on government
Tom Ferrick is married to Sharon Sexton. He and Sexton have two children. Born in South Philadelphia
, Ferrick attended Temple University
in the late 1960s, but never graduated, having spent too much time at the school newspaper, The Temple News
, he has claimed.
Nonetheless, Ferrick got a job with a since-disbanded news service, the United Press International
, in Philadelphia and later in Harrisburg. In 1976, he was hired as a Statehouse reporter in Harrisburg for the Inquirer and climbed through a series of reporting and editing positions. For the Inquirer, Ferrick has been, among other roles, the City Hall bureau chief, a poverty reporter, a political writer, a deputy editor and a special projects writer. Ferrick was a Richard Burke Memorial Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania
in 1996 [3]. Recently, Ferrick has been active in the Great Expectations Project, a partnership between UPenn
and the Inquirer, which has held public forums throughout Philadelphia to accumulate the feelings of voters in order to influence the 2007 Philadelphia mayoral race
.
Ferrick has won numerous local, state and national awards for his work, including the George Polk Award, an Associated Press Managing Editors Award, a World Hunger Award and, in 2008, the Hal Hovey Award, given by Governing Magazine
to honor excellence in coverage of government and politics. In 1978, Ferrick was a member of a team of Inquirer reporters who covered the nuclear accident at the Three Mile Island plant, coverage that was awarded a Pulitzer Prize
. In 2005, he was named one of "Pennsylvania's Most Influential Reporters" by the Pennsylvania political news website PoliticsPA
.
His father
, for whom Ferrick is named, was a major league
pitcher
for five teams from 1941 through 1952. His career reached a pinnacle when, in 1950, while playing for the New York Yankees
, he led American League
relief pitchers in wins and beat his hometown Phillies in the third game of a four-game sweep.
Ferrick also serves as an lecturer in journalism
at Bryn Mawr College
.
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
with the Philadelphia Inquirer. He had been a columnist at the Inquirer since 1998 but left the newspaper in 2008. The Philadelphia native has spent nearly 40 years as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, focusing mostly on government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
Tom Ferrick is married to Sharon Sexton. He and Sexton have two children. Born in South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
, Ferrick attended Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
in the late 1960s, but never graduated, having spent too much time at the school newspaper, The Temple News
The Temple News
The Temple News is the editorially independent weekly newspaper of Temple University.It prints 6,000 copies to be distributed primarily on Temple's Main Campus every Tuesday. A staff of 25, supported by more than 150 writers, is responsible for designing, reporting and editing the 20-page paper...
, he has claimed.
Nonetheless, Ferrick got a job with a since-disbanded news service, the United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, in Philadelphia and later in Harrisburg. In 1976, he was hired as a Statehouse reporter in Harrisburg for the Inquirer and climbed through a series of reporting and editing positions. For the Inquirer, Ferrick has been, among other roles, the City Hall bureau chief, a poverty reporter, a political writer, a deputy editor and a special projects writer. Ferrick was a Richard Burke Memorial Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1996 [3]. Recently, Ferrick has been active in the Great Expectations Project, a partnership between UPenn
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and the Inquirer, which has held public forums throughout Philadelphia to accumulate the feelings of voters in order to influence the 2007 Philadelphia mayoral race
Philadelphia mayoral election, 2007
The 2007 Philadelphia mayoral election was held on November 6, 2007 when Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States elected Michael Nutter as the Mayor of Philadelphia starting in 2008. The incumbent mayor, John F. Street was barred from seeking a third term because of term limits...
.
Ferrick has won numerous local, state and national awards for his work, including the George Polk Award, an Associated Press Managing Editors Award, a World Hunger Award and, in 2008, the Hal Hovey Award, given by Governing Magazine
Governing Magazine
Governing is a national monthly magazine, edited and published since 1987 in Washington, D.C., whose subject area is state and local government in the United States. The magazine covers policy, politics and the management of government enterprises...
to honor excellence in coverage of government and politics. In 1978, Ferrick was a member of a team of Inquirer reporters who covered the nuclear accident at the Three Mile Island plant, coverage that was awarded a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
. In 2005, he was named one of "Pennsylvania's Most Influential Reporters" by the Pennsylvania political news website PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
.
His father
Tom Ferrick (baseball)
Thomas Jerome Ferrick was a pitcher, pitching coach and scout in American Major League Baseball. Born in New York, New York, he stood 6'2½" tall and weighed 220 pounds in his playing days...
, for whom Ferrick is named, was a major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for five teams from 1941 through 1952. His career reached a pinnacle when, in 1950, while playing for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, he led American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
relief pitchers in wins and beat his hometown Phillies in the third game of a four-game sweep.
Ferrick also serves as an lecturer in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
.