Dan Schwartz is an investigative journalist based in the American West. He writes on all sorts of subjects but fundamentally seeks long-form, narrative stories driven by compelling characters, snappy dialogue, scene-rooted action, and a strong sense of outrage. His writing, frequently recommended by sites such as Longform and the Sunday Long Read, has appeared in numerous national outlets including The Atlantic, Outside Magazine, and Vice Magazine.
Dan is a seasoned reporter with a track record of prying public records from public institutions by leveraging freedom of information laws. He frequently speaks about it at conferences and in classrooms. Right now, with the help of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic, Dan is suing the Pennsylvania State Police for the release of certain email, text messages, and voicemail.
Photo by Bryan Rowe
Dan started his career at daily papers in Alaska, New Mexico, and Vermont, winning awards along the way for unearthing government corruption and bird-dogging environmental regulators reluctant to regulate. He honed his craft in a master’s program at the Missouri School of Journalism, where he worked as a fellow with The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and part-time as a researcher for Investigative Reporters and Editors.
Dan has an undergraduate degree in outdoor education. Back in the day, he dabbled in guiding. He doesn’t guide anymore but has kept his skills sharp and when he's not writing he may be found outside, depending on the season and topography, backcountry skiing or ice climbing or rock climbing or mountain biking or trail running or swimming or sailing or, to his mother’s chagrin, dirt biking. She’s right to worry. Motorcycles are dangerous.
