About
Ganim, 2011/Photo by The Patriot-News
Sara Ganim is a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and a correspondent for CNN.
She was born in Detroit, raised in Ft. Lauderdale and fell in love with journalism as a high school freelancer with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. She stumbled into crime reporting at The Daily Collegian at Penn State, and since then has always had a passion for covering crime and the courts. The challenge of reporting on such sensitive subjects and intricate cases was a major advantage in breaking the story about Jerry Sandusky, while a reporter for The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa. The instinct to approach it as a crime story, rather than a sports story, helped The Patriot-News stay ahead of coverage when the scandal became national news. In April 2012, the newspaper was awarded the Pulitzer for local reporting on the story.
Right before the Pulitzer Prizes were announced April 16, 2012/Photo by The Patriot-News
Ganim, who has worked both in print and broadcast, is a big proponent of multi-platform reporting and using social media to spread news. She sees that change in newsrooms as a positive — something that makes for better, more efficient and more diverse reporters. In her spare time she enjoys speaking to aspiring journalists about how to maximize their skills and use youth as an advantage to get into this business during tough economic times.
Talking to working journalists about being a digital-first, multi-talented reporter is very important to her. Sara has traveled to several American universities, and taught classes in Hong Kong. She traveled to Moscow to speak to journalists and later hosted them at The Patriot-News.
Ganim speaking to journalism students at Ohio University
Crime and investigative reporting has been her passion during her short career, but she also has great interest a lot of other things, like space travel, education, and technology.
And anything funny.
Good work on breaking this horrible story at Penn State.
A citizen on the Oregon Coast.
Hi –
I saw your interview on PBS last night, and I thought you did an excellent job. Not many “reporters” can step into something like the Paterno Scandal and do a live TV interview with such confidence.
Good one!
Lloyd from idaho
Sara- I love the fact you have a police scanner on your nightstand. You’re a true crackerjack reporter — keep up the good work on the Penn State story!! I saw you worked at AP — i was an office assistant in the Philly bureau during my college days – of course, then it was in the (dearly departed) Philly Bulletin bldg. We work hard here to break stories -most recently, I ran the John Edwards story, and we were considered for a Pulitzer Prize. If you ever want to explore the colorful world of tabloid journalism in America, call me. In the meantime, good luck ! Barry Levine, Executive Editor/Director of News at National Enquirer in NYC
Great reporting in Happy Valley.
Dear Sara,
Following your terrific work. Keep it up. Great to see such a young journalist — and a “sister” newspaper — breaking big-time news.
Amy Ellis Nutt
The Star-Ledger
Sara
I can’t imagine how hard your fellow Penssylvanians were on you when you began to report on the predation of Jerry Sandusky on State College children. Obama, Toomey, Casey et al pulled the Medal of Freedom honor for Paterno and in my opinion they should simply transfer the nomination to you for sticking your neck out and truly making the field of journalism proud. I am not a journalist rather an ecologist but after reading your trailblazing work last march and listening to you on News Hour I was so impressed with your willingness to say what is really going on. It looks to me from Mark Madden’s reporting that this might get way worse and right when I read about this in The New York Times on Saturday it became clear that there was quite a bit of obfuscation and that Mr Sandusky’s claws spread across the state and to some very high places. Please continue to pursue this story vertically and horizontally!
you rock. can’t tell you how much respect i have for you for breaking the Sandusky sex abuse story at Penn State. was wondering who did it. imagine my surprise when i was reading the sun-sentinel this morning and found my answer. way to go sara! it’s gratifying to know true journalism reporting skills standards and ethics still exist along. can’t stand the high-anxiety antics of cnn, fox, espn and all the others that are only trying to win the race and don’t really care how they do it…..GO SARA
CNN and Fox are going to be fighting over you soon(if they aren’t already). Excellent reporting!
Sara: sent you an email a week ago, respect for you and your reporting remains high/off the chart. I predict: (a) Sandusky’s attorney will get to all the victims and intimidate them into retracting or softening their claims (gee – how would he find out their names???? hmm…); and (b) prosecutors will either drop perjury charges or plea-bargain in order to secure iron-clad, bullet-proof statements against McQueary from the VP and athletic director. YOU GO GIRL!!!
Sara,
The unbelievable corruption at PSU has drawn me to your reporting. Thank you for your contribution & diligence towards exposing the truth. I can’t fathom the amount of resistance you will encounter from the blind followers and from the untold minions of conspirators hiding in places of power. Don’t let the rats get away with it!
Great job on this big story! You’re a real pro!
Sara, as a Penn State Alumni, I applaud your journalism and courage. This important story needs to be played out. I have several questions for you. If Ray Gricar’s disappearance was not connected to the Sandusky case, then what possible motive would have been big enough to cause him to be done away with? It is obvious that the investigators in Bellefonte cannot/will not solve this. Has anyone considered a forensic accounting of the cash income stream from the football concessions? Has anyone confiscated Jerry Sandusky’s computer? Could there have been a larger sexual abuse ring?
Enjoy watching you on CNN. You’re headed for great things!
All accolades greatly deserved. Completely respect your philosophy and try to instill it in young journalists I work with every semester. In journalism 15+ years I also teach @ Emerson College in Boston. If you are EVER in New England and would like to share it all with budding journalists i would LOVE to have you as a guest speaker. I know the entire journalism department would love, and benefit from, that, too. (accidentally deleted the “o” in 1st version…sorry)
Sara, I have watched your work on the Sandusky story since it broke on the national media. You are an excellent journalist and clearly a great “street” reporter. Keep up the fabulous work. I hope you’re able to parlay this into a larger arena professionally (i.e., landind a more lucrative gig elsewhere). Your rock!!!!!
I greatly enjoyed your appearance at the forum conducted at the PSU Curley Center by the University’s journalism school. You are true to message of the holistic journalist and provide an excellent role model for the next generation of reporters.
Greatly enjoyed the journalism school forum last night, which I was able to view on Ustream. Your closing message to the students was very powerful.
Keep up the fine work.
What a fantastic reporter you are! I always watch HLN (Vinnie and Jane) hoping that you
will have info to share with us. You are the best tv reporter to come along in years!
I am a big fan and I think we are all big fans who care about excellent news coverage.
I hope you do more national tv work. All the best!
Now THAT’s dedication! Awesome job at following your passion, Sara!
Be strong.
Really nice story tonight on the new version of the McQuery story. Perhaps you could clarify the grand jury process and why important stuff like that never made it into the grand jury presentment.
Perhaps reference Rashomon. Everyone interested in this sort of case should see that.
Hi, Sara!
I just saw and read the fantastic article about you in Glamour magazine. I’m a Harrisburg-area resident and subscriber to The Patriot-News, but had no idea it was an emerging journalist (you!) that broke the story. I’m so impressed by your courage, your tenacity, and your talent–as a mom of young girls, I’m so happy that that there are women like you to serve as role models (I know, no pressure, but it’s awesome).
Good work, good luck, and congratulations!
–Leah
Sara,
A huge congratulations on your Pulitzer win and on the myriad accolades that you’ve earned for your incredible reporting. It’s inspiring to see fellow journalists like you still give newsrooms so much to celebrate. I’m so glad that you’re being honored for your tenacity and for covering your beat with such distinction. Keep moving it forward!
Another giant congrats!
Erin
Congratulations Sara.
I showed your “About” page to one of my students who is a promising young writer. She will benefit from looking at a role model like you, especially the photos of you in your work environment.
Dear Sara,
We are the 18th of April, 2012, and you just received a Pullitzer : well done !!
I try to reach you for a article on you and you prize which will be published in a French weekly women magazine. But I do need to contact you as soon as possible ! Please send me a email when you have my message, it is urgent (you have my email in your Patriot News email box)By advance, thanks a lot.
Iris Deroeux
Thanks for your in depth coverage and analysis of the Sandusky case. Your writing is straightforward and informative. Your personal perspectives are insightful and highly relatable, especially considering the sensitive nature of the content. The tweets are a nice touch- having updated snippets of what is happening in the court room. Keep up the good work- you will definitely be my go-to source as this trial continues. I will also be seeking out future stories that you cover. -from your newest fan.
Just caught your reporting on CNN and wanted to congratulate you on your achievements. What do you do for an encore? LOL As a former major college athlete, I perfectly understand the not altogether healthy culture of big time universities. Penn State is the most disturbing example. Keep up the good work–dig, dig, dig.
Thank you so much Sara for your insight, tenacity, skill and ethics on exposing the monster that Jerry Sandusky is. You are the generation’s next Christiane Amanpour. This is a horrific and tragic page in our county’s history. The only good that will come of it is people will use their eyes and common sense when seeing something that is inappropriate, even if the offender is respected and loved by the community. We all need to wake up.
Sara,
As a former political reporter/photographer from Michigan (who is currently teaching high school debate in Florida), I wanted to thank you for being an amazing representative of the journalism profession. Your breaking, and continual coverage, of the Sandusky story has been phenomenal. In this era of tabloid sensationalism and biased political coverage, you give me hope that there is a future for legitimate, hard-hitting, take-no-prisoners investigative reporting. I am proud to have been a part of your professional world. I encourage you to keep doing a wonderful job!