Matthew Kauffman
Encyclopedia
Matthew Kauffman is an American
investigative journalist
and two-time Pulitzer Prize
finalist.
From a very young age, Kauffman was fascinated with journalism, earning him a job at his local newspaper. In 1979, Matthew attended Vassar College
, where he reported for the College Newspaper. While at Vassar, Kauffman cracked several huge stories, earning him fame and enemies. Rape
s had been reported on campus, and with another reporter Kauffman took photos of paid security guards lounging about in a basement, rather than patrolling their zones. Kauffman was even sent to court after being accused of harassing a student club during a voting meeting. In fact, Kauffman was illegally turned away at the door simply based on his reputation as a dirt-digging journalist. The meeting broke down when Kauffman demanded to be admitted, and legal actions were filed. Kauffman received legal help from a friend’s father.
After graduating Vassar with a major in Political Science
, Kauffman married Wendy Nelson Kauffman and moved to New Haven
, Connecticut
. There, they had son David.
Kauffman worked as a legal writer for the Hartford Courant until moving to West Hartford
, Connecticut
, where he had his youngest son, Sam, and took a job at the business desk. In 2003, Kauffman received accolades for his series on Drug company scandals. Then, he wrote a weekly column known as the “Inside Pitch” and monthly reviews on As seen on TV products.
After winning Reporter of the Year at the Courant, and twice being a finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award
, Kauffman was promoted to the investigative desk. He uncovered questionable ticket deals at the UConn
athletic department; the highly paid basketball coaches Jim Calhoun
and Geno Auriemma
and others were secretly trading tickets for cars.
Kauffman has made an appearance on the The O'Reilly Factor
, where he talked about the legal, but sleazy, practices of charity executives and the percentage of donations that they keep.
In May 2006, Kauffman, along with colleague Lisa Chedekel
, broke the story of mentally unstable soldiers in the U.S. Military being sent to and kept in Iraq
. The four part series, entitled "Mentally Unfit, Forced to Fight", gained national renown. They talked with broadcast, cable, internet, and print journalists about what they found and Kauffman was featured in an evening network newscast -- ABC World News Sunday on May 14, 2006. The story won the 2006 Worth Bingham Prize
, the George Polk Award, the 2007 Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting, the Dart Award for Excellence in Reporting on Victims of Violence, and the Heywood Broun
Award. The story was also a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize
for Investigative Reporting.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
investigative 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...
and two-time 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...
finalist.
From a very young age, Kauffman was fascinated with journalism, earning him a job at his local newspaper. In 1979, Matthew attended Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, where he reported for the College Newspaper. While at Vassar, Kauffman cracked several huge stories, earning him fame and enemies. Rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
s had been reported on campus, and with another reporter Kauffman took photos of paid security guards lounging about in a basement, rather than patrolling their zones. Kauffman was even sent to court after being accused of harassing a student club during a voting meeting. In fact, Kauffman was illegally turned away at the door simply based on his reputation as a dirt-digging journalist. The meeting broke down when Kauffman demanded to be admitted, and legal actions were filed. Kauffman received legal help from a friend’s father.
After graduating Vassar with a major in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, Kauffman married Wendy Nelson Kauffman and moved to New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. There, they had son David.
Kauffman worked as a legal writer for the Hartford Courant until moving to West Hartford
West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, where he had his youngest son, Sam, and took a job at the business desk. In 2003, Kauffman received accolades for his series on Drug company scandals. Then, he wrote a weekly column known as the “Inside Pitch” and monthly reviews on As seen on TV products.
After winning Reporter of the Year at the Courant, and twice being a finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award
Gerald Loeb Award
The Gerald Loeb Award, also referred to as the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism, is a recognition of excellence in journalism, especially in the fields of business, finance and the economy. The award was established in 1957 by Gerald Loeb, a founding partner of...
, Kauffman was promoted to the investigative desk. He uncovered questionable ticket deals at the UConn
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
athletic department; the highly paid basketball coaches Jim Calhoun
Jim Calhoun
James A. Calhoun is the head coach of the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team. His teams have won three national championships , played in four Final Fours , won the 1988 NIT championship, and have won seven Big East tournament championships...
and Geno Auriemma
Geno Auriemma
Luigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...
and others were secretly trading tickets for cars.
Kauffman has made an appearance on the The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
, where he talked about the legal, but sleazy, practices of charity executives and the percentage of donations that they keep.
In May 2006, Kauffman, along with colleague Lisa Chedekel
Lisa Chedekel
Lisa Chedekel is an award-winning investigative journalist. In 1999 she was on a team of reporters that won a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting. She was an investigative journalist, for the Hartford Courant whose stories on military mental health care won a number of national awards,...
, broke the story of mentally unstable soldiers in the U.S. Military being sent to and kept in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The four part series, entitled "Mentally Unfit, Forced to Fight", gained national renown. They talked with broadcast, cable, internet, and print journalists about what they found and Kauffman was featured in an evening network newscast -- ABC World News Sunday on May 14, 2006. The story won the 2006 Worth Bingham Prize
Worth Bingham Prize
The Worth Bingham Prize, also referred to as the Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Reporting, is an annual journalism award which honors: "newspaper or magazine investigative reporting of stories of national significance where the public interest is being ill-served."- About the Prize :The...
, the George Polk Award, the 2007 Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting, the Dart Award for Excellence in Reporting on Victims of Violence, and the Heywood Broun
Heywood Broun
Heywood Campbell Broun, Jr. was an American journalist. He worked as a sportswriter, newspaper columnist, and editor in New York City. He founded the American Newspaper Guild, now known as The Newspaper Guild. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he is best remembered for his writing on social issues and...
Award. The story was also a finalist for the 2007 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...
for Investigative Reporting.
External links
- Mentally Unfit, Forced to Fight series http://www.courant.com/soldiers
- http://www.transcripts.tv/SearchResults.aspx Show: WORLD NEWS Broadcast Date: 5/14/2006