Colin Flaherty
Encyclopedia
Colin Flaherty is a writer, talk show host and the owner of an on-line ad agency and public relations company.
His by-line has appeared in dozens of languages around the world, and he has been a guest on numerous local and national TV and radio programs on the NPR, ABC, CBS, Fox and other networks.
Most recently his by-line appeared in Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
In June 2011, he won First Place in the Washington Post Spy Novel Writer's Contest. The contest was judged by Washington Post editor and best selling author David Ignatius, who said Flaherty's work was his "strong favorite," and it "advances the story and twists it in a new and interesting direction, very deftly."
His winning entry was the subject of a radio show on WDEL.
He is best known for doing a story for the San Diego Reader
that secured the release of Kelvin Wiley after showing that he was unjustly convicted for assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
He is the owner of Flaherty Communications, a public relations, marketing communications and online advertising company.
He resides in Wilmington, Delaware. He is single with two grown children.
"That and a lot more. I now know how to cook muskrat, squirrel and rochchuks."
While attending Salesianum School for Boys, he was recognized with Letter of Commendation in the National Merit Scholarship Program
. He also served as president of his parish, then diocesan Catholic Youth Organization.
In the summer of 1972, he was arrested while protesting the re-nomination of Richard Nixon as President of the United States. The picture of his arrest appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and on the inside of Hunter Thompson’s book on the 1972 campaign. In 1996, he wrote about his two days in jail with poet Alan Ginsburg
, and subsequent conversion to Republicanism, for San Diego Magazine.
He attended the University of Delaware
in 1974, and was elected to be the Student Representative to the Faculty Senate.
He left the University to join the James E. Strates Shows
, a carnival that travelled to state and country fairs up and down the Eastern seaboard of the United States.
After living and working in the Florida Keys for two years, he travelled around the country on a motorcycle for six months, landing back in Wilmington in the Fall of 1976. Three months later, he hitchhiked to California, arriving Thanksgiving Day.
Four years later he was hired to cover city hall for the San Diego Business Journal. After less than one year on the job, the San Diego Press Club named Flaherty the top political reporter and the Best of Show. He also covered San Diego for United Press International, the San Diego Reader and San Diego Magazine.
He was a frequent guest and guest host on local TV and radio shows.
Over the next ten years, he would win more than 50 journalism awards. In 1992, he was recognized for writing a story that resulted in the release of Kelvin Wiley from state prison because he showed Wiley was unjustly convicted. The story was also the subject of a feature on Court TV
.
He also represented heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield
when someone stole the champ's boxing shorts after his successful bout with Larry Holmes
. Holyfield considered the shorts his lucky charm.
He started Flaherty Communications in 1992, where he represented some of the biggest companies in San Diego during difficult public relations battles—especially land use. Colin Flaherty
He occasionally teaches a class at the University of California on Interviewing and Researching techniques for journalists. He has also been a guest lecturer at San Diego State University
and Point Loma Nazarene College.
Today, he commutes between California and the East Coast, where he is a frequent co-host of a talk radio show on WDEL
in Wilmington, Delaware
. Archives of his show can be found on http://www.WeBuildTheSun.com
His by-line has appeared in dozens of languages around the world, and he has been a guest on numerous local and national TV and radio programs on the NPR, ABC, CBS, Fox and other networks.
Most recently his by-line appeared in Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
In June 2011, he won First Place in the Washington Post Spy Novel Writer's Contest. The contest was judged by Washington Post editor and best selling author David Ignatius, who said Flaherty's work was his "strong favorite," and it "advances the story and twists it in a new and interesting direction, very deftly."
His winning entry was the subject of a radio show on WDEL.
He is best known for doing a story for the San Diego Reader
San Diego Reader
The San Diego Reader is the largest alternative press paper in the county of San Diego, distributed free in stands and private businesses throughout the county, funded by advertisements...
that secured the release of Kelvin Wiley after showing that he was unjustly convicted for assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
He is the owner of Flaherty Communications, a public relations, marketing communications and online advertising company.
He resides in Wilmington, Delaware. He is single with two grown children.
Books
IN 2011, Flaherty published "Redwood to Deadwood: A 53-year old dude hitchhikes around America again." He wrote the book after remembering that lots of people used to hitchhike, but few do now. "Before I tucked my thumb in for the final time, I’d almost get murdered, run with wild horses, visit a pot plantation, get into crazy family feuds with my own and other families, restart my business, ride in cop cars, hunt big game, poach big game, get chased by a helicopter, reconnect with old friends, make new ones, get tired and exhilarated and lost and found and scorned and accepted, kicked out and invited in."That and a lot more. I now know how to cook muskrat, squirrel and rochchuks."
Early life
Colin Flaherty was born in Wilmington, Delaware, where he attended grade school at Christ Our King. In 1967, his brother Kevin was Killed in Action in Viet Nam.While attending Salesianum School for Boys, he was recognized with Letter of Commendation in the National Merit Scholarship Program
National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a United States academic scholarship competition for recognition and college scholarships administered by National Merit Scholarship Corporation , a privately funded, not-for-profit organization. The program began in 1955...
. He also served as president of his parish, then diocesan Catholic Youth Organization.
In the summer of 1972, he was arrested while protesting the re-nomination of Richard Nixon as President of the United States. The picture of his arrest appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and on the inside of Hunter Thompson’s book on the 1972 campaign. In 1996, he wrote about his two days in jail with poet Alan Ginsburg
Alan Ginsburg
According to Forbes, Alan H. Ginsburg, Trustee since December 2006; Chief Executive Officer since 1987 of The CED Companies, a private company which develops, builds and manages multi-family apartment communities most notably on closed military installations in the Orlando area. He also serves as...
, and subsequent conversion to Republicanism, for San Diego Magazine.
He attended the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
in 1974, and was elected to be the Student Representative to the Faculty Senate.
He left the University to join the James E. Strates Shows
Strates Shows
Strates Shows is America's only railroad carnival. It travels the United States during a seven-month season, transporting personnel and equipment with 61 rail cars and 34 trucks. Traveling with the show are some 400 employees and families who operate the many rides, games and...
, a carnival that travelled to state and country fairs up and down the Eastern seaboard of the United States.
After living and working in the Florida Keys for two years, he travelled around the country on a motorcycle for six months, landing back in Wilmington in the Fall of 1976. Three months later, he hitchhiked to California, arriving Thanksgiving Day.
Business and Professional Career
Colin Flaherty attended the University of California San Diego, where he was awarded the Regents Scholarship, "the most distinguished recognition the Board of Regents can offer a student." After attending school and working on a number of political campaigns, Flaherty was hired to be a council representative to San Diego City Councilman Uvaldo Martinez in 1982.Four years later he was hired to cover city hall for the San Diego Business Journal. After less than one year on the job, the San Diego Press Club named Flaherty the top political reporter and the Best of Show. He also covered San Diego for United Press International, the San Diego Reader and San Diego Magazine.
He was a frequent guest and guest host on local TV and radio shows.
Over the next ten years, he would win more than 50 journalism awards. In 1992, he was recognized for writing a story that resulted in the release of Kelvin Wiley from state prison because he showed Wiley was unjustly convicted. The story was also the subject of a feature on Court TV
Court TV
truTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
.
He also represented heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
when someone stole the champ's boxing shorts after his successful bout with Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes is a former professional boxer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin....
. Holyfield considered the shorts his lucky charm.
He started Flaherty Communications in 1992, where he represented some of the biggest companies in San Diego during difficult public relations battles—especially land use. Colin Flaherty
He occasionally teaches a class at the University of California on Interviewing and Researching techniques for journalists. He has also been a guest lecturer at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
and Point Loma Nazarene College.
Today, he commutes between California and the East Coast, where he is a frequent co-host of a talk radio show on WDEL
WDEL
WDEL is a news/talk radio station in Wilmington, Delaware. WDEL first signed on in 1922 and is one of the first 100 broadcast radio stations licensed in the US. WDEL is a class B station, currently operating at 5,000 watts....
in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. Archives of his show can be found on http://www.WeBuildTheSun.com