John Ferrugia

John Ferrugia is an investigative reporter who is currently working as a journalist/trainer for the non-profit Colorado News Collaborative (COLab).

He is the former News Anchor and Managing Editor for Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver, Colorado.

Ferrugia received a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1975.

John Ferrugia has been married to his wife Mona since 1975.

They have two children and live in Denver, Colorado.

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) reporting and filming half-hour programs highlighting issues of public importance.

He was later briefly the city hall reporter.

In 1977, Ferrugia moved to KCMO-TV in Kansas City, Missouri 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".

In the 1980s, he covered the White House, foreign and domestic assignments, and was a principal correspondent for the news magazine West 57th.

Ferrugia grew up in Fulton, Missouri.

He attended Catholic grade school (St. Peter's) and Fulton 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.

In 1980, he caught the eye of executives at CBS News, including Chicago bureau chief Jack Smith, and producer Joe Peyronnin 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; the assassination attempt of Reagan in March 1981 and subsequent investigation; the kidnapping of U.S. General James L. 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 Lesley 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.

In 1985, Ferrugia was named principal correspondent for the CBS news magazine West 57th (TV program).

His colleagues included Meredith Vieira, Steve Kroft, and Bob Sirott.

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, grey market prescription drugs, and the redesign of space shuttle rocket boosters after the Challenger disaster.

Ferrugia left CBS News in 1989 to anchor news and report for KCNC-TV in Denver, Colorado.

In his first year, 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 HIV and AIDS.

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

As the station's only investigative reporter, he initially worked alone.

From 1992 through February 2016, he worked as an investigative reporter at KMGH-TV.

He is a former CBS News correspondent.

By 2002 KMGH-TV had hired investigative producer Jeff Harris and News Director Byron Grandy who, with Ferrugia, began to build the station's investigative reporting profile.

The investigative team added producer Kurt Silver (now an FBI special agent, investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski, and producer Tom Burke. Jason Foster was the team's Photojournalist/Editor.

With Ferrugia as lead reporter, the 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 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award, Peabody and the Investigative Reporters and Editors Award (IRE).

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 restructuring of Denver's Department of Human Services to better protect children at risk.

The investigative reports prompted Colorado's governor to appoint a child welfare committee that recommended sweeping changes in the state system including a new case worker academy where all county caseworkers are now trained to make sure all are accountable for their actions.

The state also established the State Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman as an independent third party to investigate complaints.

Ferrugia's 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 hospital's director, and a criminal grand jury investigation.