Paul La Rosa (born 1953) is an American journalist, author, and television news producer, best known for his award-winning work at CBS News’ 48 Hours and his reporting with The New York Daily News. Over a career spanning four decades, he has covered crime stories, produced documentaries, and written both nonfiction and fiction, often with a focus on true crime.

He has received Peabody Award, Christopher Award, Gracie Awards and Emmy Awards.

Biography La Rosa was born in East HarlemLore Croghan, “Bronx tale: Ex-Newser Paul LaRosa’s memoir recalls youth in Soundview housing project,” New York Daily News, April 27, 2012. and raised in the James Monroe Houses, a public housing project located in the Soundview section of The Bronx.Vince Cosgrove, “’Leaving Story Avenue: My Journey From the Projects to the Front Page:’ A book review,” The Star-Ledger, May 6, 2012. His first job was delivering the New York Daily News.Douglas Martin, “About New York; Out On Strike: Fight on the Line, And in His Heart,” New York Times, November 3, 1990. He currently resides in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Prior to Fordham he studied at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx.

Career

Print journalism Following his graduation from Fordham University, LaRosa was employed at the Daily News from 1975 until 1990,Jotham Sederstrom, “Reporter’s Crime Expose A Hit,” New York Daily News, January 15, 2006. starting out as a copy boy.Marisa Guthrie, “How to write a ‘Mystery’,” New York Daily News, April 21, 2007.

During the 1970s and 1980s, he covered a wide range of beats including crime, labor, and city government. His most prominent assignment was covering the 1980 murder of John Lennon outside The Dakota.Jerry Barmash, “CBS News Producer and Former Daily News Reporter Recounds Life in Memoir,” Mediabistro.com, March 26, 2012.

In 1983, he was awarded the Meyer Berger Award for Distinguished Reporting from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, sharing the honor with The New York Times columnist Anna Quindlen.“Winners of the Mike Berger Award,” journalism.columbia.edu. Accessed May 23, 2012. The following year, he received a Revson Fellowship for the Future of the City of New York, allowing him to spend a year at Columbia University studying urban affairs.

LaRosa remained at the Daily News until 1991.

Broadcast journalism In 1992, La Rosa joined CBS News as a producer for 48 Hours, where he specialized in long-form investigative storytelling.Sam Roberts, “Looking at New York as a target,” New York Times, April 21, 2012.

He was a producer for the 2002 documentary 9/11, which captured the experiences of New York City firefighters during the September 11 attacks. The program earned him multiple honors, including Peabody Award, Christopher Award, and an Edward R. Murrow Award."9/11," Emmys.com. Accessed May 23, 2012.“2003 Murrow National Winners,” Radio Television Digital News Association. Accessed May 23, 2012.

He was nominated for Emmy Awards multiple times and has won four of them over his career. He also has received three Gracie Awards from the Alliance for Women in Media. In 2018, he won a New York Press Club Award in the Special Event category for A Nation Divided, a report featuring middle school students from immigrant families reflecting on the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.

Writing La Rosa is the author of several true-crime books, often based on cases he covered for television. His works include Tacoma Confidential: A True Story of Murder, Suicide, and a Police Chief’s Secret Life (2006), Nightmare in Napa (2007), Death of a Dream (2008, with Erin Moriarty), and Seven Days of Rage: The Deadly Crime Spree of the Craigslist Killer (2009, with Maria Cramer). His memoir, Leaving Story Avenue: My Journey from the Projects to the Front Page (2012).

Personal life La Rosa is married to Susan Glauberman La Rosa, former vice president of marketing and communications for the Henry Street Settlement. They have two grown children. A native New Yorker, he has lived in every borough except Staten Island.

Books Leaving Story Avenue: My Journey From the Projects to the Front Page (2012, Park Slope Publishing)

True crime Seven Days of Rage: The Deadly Crime Spree of the Craigslist Killer – with Maria Cramer (2010, Pocket Star) Death of a Dream – with Erin Moriarty (2008, Pocket Star) Nightmare in Napa: The Wine Country Murders (2007, Pocket Star) Tacoma Confidential: A True Story of Murder, Suicide, and a Police Chief’s Secret Life (2006, Signet

Novels

– Get Back, Imagine Saving John Lennon by Donovan Day (pseudonym)

Television 48 Hours Mystery – Producer – various episodes (1993 – current, CBS) Survivor – Producer – "Surviving Survivor" special – (2010, CBS) "All Access Grammy Special" – Producer (2009, CBS) "39 Days"—Producer (2018, CBS News)

References

External links Official website Leaving Story Avenue official website