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John Ferrugia: Investigative Reporter/ News Anchor John Ferrugia (born 1951) is an investigative reporter working at KMGH-TV in Denver, Colorado. He anchors the early evening news broadcasts one day per week and fills in for the main anchor team. He is a former CBS News correspondent who, in the 1980’s, worked at the White House, on foreign and domestic assignments, and as a principal correspondent for the news magazine “West 57th”.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

Ferrugia grew up in Fulton, Missouri.(Population: 10,000) 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 that reported and filmed half hour programs. 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. He also presented his investigation on “The CBS Evening News”. He produced several other stories that aired on the “CBS Morning News” and in1980 caught the eye of executives at CBS News during his coverage of the National Political Conventions.

In 1980, Ferrugia was hired by CBS News Washington Bureau Chief Ed Fouhy. In his first two years he covered 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 coverage included President Reagan at Economic Summits in London and Williamsburg; his trips to China, Korea, and South America; the 1984 Presidential campaign; and an election night interview 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 the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the Mafia trials in Sicily, politics, and cutting edge cancer research. 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 an Emmy award for his investigation of the funding of violent skinhead groups in Colorado.

Three years later he joined KMGH-TV where he initially anchored the mid-day news with co-anchor Anne Trujillo and continue to investigate issues of public policy.

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.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/call7investigators/19063818/detail.html

This is just one of many stories he has investigated that has forced changes in public policy, government or public safety.

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.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/2688910/detail.html

While his principle job is investigative reporter, he has been involved in reporting the major stories for the past two decades, including the Columbine killings and subsequent investigation;

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/19232844/detail.html

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 and 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 often to several CNN broadcasts; and has appeared on "Oprah" detailing the results of the Air Force Sex Assault Scandal.

http://www.showbizdata.com/news/32238/LOCAL-NEWS-TEAM-PRODUCES-I2020I-FEATURE

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, 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" and 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 working for American Forces Radio and TV in the early 1970’s.

PERSONAL

Ferrugia has been married to his wife Mona since 1975. They have two children and live in Denver, Colorado.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_57th_(TV_series)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_News

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KMGH-TV

http://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/13/arts/tv-review-west-57th-on-cbs-magazine-has-its-debut.html

http://localhistory.kclibrary.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Local&CISOPTR=15299&CISOBOX=1&REC=13

http://www.big13.net/John%20Ferrugia.htm

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20093604,00.html

http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_12045538

http://www.tvrundown.com/0915s.pdf