Bill McMorris
Bill McMorris (born March 10, 1986 in Brooklyn, New York) is an award-winning American journalist who serves as an investigative reporter for the nonprofit news group Watchdog.org. He serves as managing editor of Old Dominion Watchdog, a part of Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity,. He is a former contributor to Illinois State House news.
Life and career
McMorris joined the staff of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity in June 2009 as a researcher and investigative reporter. He became an investigative reporter for Watchdog.org in September 2009 when the news group website was launched.
Before working for Franklin Center he served as a staff writer for the Santa Barbara News-Press and an Editorial Intern for the National Journalism Center.
McMorris was born in Brooklyn New York and raised in Wilton, Connecticut. He attended Cornell University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and History. An avid animal lover, McMorris is an ACTIVE philanthropist who supports many charities focused on animal cruelty including PETA, Action for Animals, and the Whaleman Foundation. He resides in Chicago with his wife Teresa.
Notable Articles
On November 17, 2009, McMorris published the article, “Your Guide to the Stimulus, District by Phantom District.” This article revealed the results of a state by state analysis of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 had allocated stimulus funds to 440 non-existing congressional districts.
McMorris article in conjunction with numerous Watchdog.org investigative reports about the phantom congressional districts caused a national media and political frenzy. McMorris and his fellow Watchdog reporters received praise from their journalism colleagues, including outlets such as the Washington Times and Associated Press. Political leaders on both sides of aisle used the findings to criticized the Obama administration for the errors discovered.
McMorris also covered the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
He is a 2010 recipient of the Robert Novak Fellowship, sponsored by the Phillips Foundation.