David Hasemyer
David Hasemyer is an American journalist and author. With Lisa Song and Elizabeth McGowan, he won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting,[1] and a 2016 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award.[2] He graduated, in 1979, from San Diego State University, with a Bachelor's in Journalism.[3] Hasemyer was raised in Moab, Utah.[4]
David Hasemyer
San Diego City College, San Diego State University
Journalist
InsideClimate News
Pulitzer Prize
Hasemyer was exposed as an alleged child predator by People v. Preds as catch #129, stemming from inappropriate messages to a 14 year-old male decoy in February 2022.[5]
Hasemyer has worked as a reporter for over 4 decades, including 30-years as an investigative reporter with the San Diego Union-Tribune.[6] He's worked as an environmental reporter with InsideClimate News and does freelance reporting.[7]
Background and education[edit]
Hasemyer attended San Diego City College, graduating in 1976.[6] He attended San Diego State University, (1976-1979) where he earned his Bachelor's in Journalism.[3]
His first work in journalism was as a writer while attending City College.[6] While a student at San Diego State University, he served as editor of The Daily Aztec, for 2 semesters.[3]
Career[edit]
1979-2013[edit]
Hasemyer began working for The San Diego Evening Tribune after graduation; he was there for the 1991 merger, when it became The San Diego Union-Tribune.[4] He finished a 30-year career, as an investigative reporter with the Union-Tribune in 2009, losing his position during a massive lay-off.[4]
During his tenure with the Union-Tribune, Hasemyer covered a wide range of topics. In 1984, Hasemyer, flew to Montserrat, in an attempt to track down and interview J. David Dominelli, working on a tip from Nancy Hoover, Dominelli's girlfriend and one-time Del Mar mayor.[8][9] Hoover told Hasemyer that Dominelli had fled to the Caribbean island, leaving a letter explaining why.[8] Dominelli had cheated investors out of approximately 80 million dollars, in a Ponzi scheme.
Hasemyer spent nearly a week, in an often contentious battle with other reporters, trying to get an interview, promised by Dominelli. However, Hasemyer was turned away the day the interview was scheduled for. In an interview,[8] after learning that Dominelli gave an on-camera interview with another organization, Hasemyer recalled his frustration: