For episode 193, we welcomed Chris Papst to Spear Talk! Chris is the lead investigative reporter for Project Baltimore, Fox45’s ongoing investigation into Maryland’s public education system. He is a national Emmy award-winning reporter and #1 best-selling author.

As an investigative reporter, Chris' work has led to the passing of state laws, criminal convictions and court rulings that have set legal precedent throughout Maryland. As an author, his books, Failure Factory and Capital Murder, were both Amazon bestsellers in multiple categories. He is also the author of the novel, Devolution - released in 2016.

During his career, Chris’ work has received awards of recognition from institutions such as the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Office of the Comptroller and the Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education. In 2023, Chris received the Vanguard Award from the Maryland State Conference NAACP. One year later, he received the Excellence in Education Advocacy Award from the Randallstown Chapter of the NAACP.

Chris’ investigative reports have been recognized with some of journalism’s top national honors. His work has earned awards fromthe National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), The Columbia Journalism School (The duPont Columbia Award), Society of Professional Journalists (Sigma Delta Chi Awards), and the Press Club of Atlantic City (National Headliner Awards). Chris has earned nearly 100 regional awards including 49 Emmys, and multiple Edward R. Murrow, Associated Press, PICPA and various State Broadcasters Association awards.

Chris has appeared on Fox News, MSNBC, NBC Nightly News, CNBC, various national radio networks and Podcasts to discuss his reporting. His work has also been the focus of The Weather Channel documentary "Weather Caught on Tape."

Failure Factory: How Baltimore City Public Schools Deprive Taxpayers and Students of a Future (Sunbury Press) exposes how Baltimore is funding its own demise by pumping billions of dollars into a failing school system.

Capital Murder: An Investigative Reporter's Hunt for Answers in a Collapsing City (Sunbury Press) details Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's epic financial collapse as seen through the eyes of an investigative reporter.

His novel, Devolution (Post Hill Press), depicts the collapse of a global superpower and asks the question: If we could start a country today, what kind of government would we create?

In our discussion we covered his start in journalism, what numbers and statistics tell us about the education system, political posturing in the school systems, the goal of Project Baltimore, and so much more!

#projectbaltimore #educationsystem #chrispapst

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