John Temple, a veteran investigative journalist, non-fiction author and professor
in the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, recently added screenwriter
to his bio, and he’s transferring these skills into new course offerings at WVU.
Since joining the College’s faculty in 2002, Temple has authored four non-fiction
books. One of those, “American Pain,” documents how two young felons built the
largest pill mill in the United States and traces the roots of the opioid epidemic.
Temple sold the 2015 book’s film rights several times, including to Warner Brothers,
and last year co-wrote a screenplay with his wife, Hollee Temple, a professor at
the WVU College of Law. Temple was also a staff writer for the Showtime drama TV
series “Waco: The Aftermath,” which premiered on the network earlier this year.
For the second year in a row, "WVU News," the Reed College of Media’s student-produced
television newscast, clinched a prestigious regional Emmy Award. The special edition
episode, "Addiction in America: An Ongoing Epidemic,” won in the Newscast category.
It was produced by Makenna Leisifer (BSJ, 2023) and Tolu Olasoji (MSJ, 2023) with
main anchors Maggie Oliverio (BSJ, 2023) and Kathryn Bruch, a current journalism
senior.
Each year, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences recognizes outstanding
achievement in video production at the collegiate level in 19 regions across the
country, including the Ohio Valley Chapter of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West
Virginia. This year’s winners were announced during a
virtual ceremony on Sunday, Sep.17.
