Sean Hamill
Sewickley,PA
Summary
Award-winning investigative reporter with a strong focus on data journalism and helping to develop multimedia storytelling. Proven track record of producing impactful stories through rigorous and thorough reporting, public records research, revealing interviews and writing that engages our readers. Pittsburgh-area native who returned home after working in Missouri and Chicago, to the place where he got his first job - delivering the Post-Gazette.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Investigative reporter
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh, PA
04.2011 - Current
- Initially hired as a health reporter and covered Pittsburgh's largest industry for a decade, writing weekly beat stories that covered its largest entities, UPMC and Highmark, as well as in-depth looks at larger, regional and state-wide issues, and was the paper's lead COVID reporter.
- In 2020 joined the new investigative team, writing in-depth, award-winning stories about the collapse of a Pittsburgh bridge, the origins of the Pittsburgh Steelers' founder's fortune, the horrors of black lung disease, and school vaccination rates while collaborating with a team of editors, photographers, computer-assisted reporters and layout staff to produce compelling projects.
Freelance reporter
Self
Sewickley, PA
02.2006 - 04.2011
- Wrote stories for numerous newspaper and magazines, including The Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Pittsburgh Magazine, Pittsburgh City Paper and others, but primarily the New York Times.
- For the New York Times wrote or contributed to hundreds of stories in the mid-Atlantic region, working with the paper's regional reporter, but also producing my own stories for the paper ranging from Mr. Rogers legacy in Pittsburgh to Andy Warhol's gravesite and breaking news in the region.
Reporter
Associated Press
Pittsburgh, PA
09.2005 - 02.2006
- Hired for six-month, temporary job to fill in for reporter on maternity leave. Covered daily, breaking local news as well as regional stories that ran across the AP's national wires. Wrote radio-ready editions of AP stories for AP's radio subscribers.
Freelance reporter
Self
Evanston, IL
05.2003 - 09.2005
- Wrote for New City Magazine and other publications, but primarily for The Chicago Tribune.
- For The Chicago Tribune wrote local and regional stories, as well as dozens of feature obituaries on troops who died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a national story on the overrepresentation of rural communities among those who died in the wars.
Reporter
Chicago Tribune
Chicago, IL
05.2005 - 05.2005
- Worked on the City Desk covering breaking news, crime, obituaries and features, and later worked in the paper's Lake County bureau covering suburban government, courts and feature stories.
Court reporter
Daily Herald
St. Charles, IL
03.2000 - 04.2001
- Covered Kane County's courthouse criminal and civil cases, building the paper's first database for tracking ongoing cases. Wrote daily stories updating progress in cases, jury trials and news about the court's judges and attorneys, as well as features on several major cases. Part of team of reporters who reported and wrote award-winning series on repeat drunk drivers in Illinois.
Reporter
Daily Southtown
Tinley Park, IL
10.1994 - 03.2000
- Regional reporter covering governments, schools, crime and communities in southwest suburbs of Chicago. Wrote award-winning feature stories from the beat, including a major profile on a corrupt developer.
Reporter
Fulton Sun
Fulton, MO
10.1990 - 08.1993
- Covered City of Fulton, Callaway County criminal and civil cases, local and rural school districts and rural small towns. Wrote several award-winning features, including an in-depth profile of Fulton's controversial police chief. Also took photos for stories and was the paper's Saturday editor.
Education
Master of Arts - Journalism
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL05-1994
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO08-1990
Associate of Arts - Business Management
Robert Morris College
Moon, PA05-1987
High School Diploma -
Quaker Valley High School
Leetsdale, PA06-1984
Skills
- Investigative reporting
- Data journalism
- Multimedia storytelling
- Source verification
- Public records research
- Editorial collaboration
Timeline
Investigative reporter
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
04.2011 - Current
Freelance reporter
Self
02.2006 - 04.2011
Reporter
Associated Press
09.2005 - 02.2006
Reporter
Chicago Tribune
05.2005 - 05.2005
Freelance reporter
Self
05.2003 - 09.2005
Court reporter
Daily Herald
03.2000 - 04.2001
Reporter
Daily Southtown
10.1994 - 03.2000
Reporter
Fulton Sun
10.1990 - 08.1993
Master of Arts - Journalism
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
University of Missouri-Columbia
Associate of Arts - Business Management
Robert Morris College
High School Diploma -
Quaker Valley High School