“Steve Neavling may be one of the most hated men in Detroit.”– Columbia Journalism Review
Steve Neavling is an award-winning investigative reporter living in Detroit. As the editor and co-founder of Motor City Muckraker since May 2012, Neavling has exposed city hall corruption, police misconduct, racial discrimination and inadequate emergency services. His work has led to federal investigations, police suspensions, forced resignations and new leadership at the beleaguered Fire Department.
Before launching Motor City Muckraker in May 2012, Neavling wrote about city hall, poverty and corruption for the Detroit Free Press, where he was a reporter for six years. In 2011, he was named the top beat reporter for Gannett, which owns more than 100 daily newspapers.
“What sets Steve Neavling’s work apart from other beat coverage is his deft ability to switch from tenacious watchdog reporting to deep insights into turmoil in the mayor’s office,” Gannett wrote. “Every submission demonstrates that Neavling got ahead of the news, and the scope of his work makes clear he is well-sourced and has plenty of stamina for a beat that seems to make news seven days a week.”
Neavling began his journalism career at a small newspaper in Pennsylvania in 2000 after receiving a philosophy degree from the University of Mansfield. A year later, he started covering crime and the environment for the Daily Mining Gazette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. From 2003 to 2006, Neavling worked at the Bay City Times, where he won the Associated Press’ sweepstakes award for a series on widespread government corruption.
Neavling is a frequent guest on WDET, Superstation 910AM and The Mildred Gaddis Show. His work has been featured in Reuters and Hour Detroit.