Brian Ross (journalist)

Ross was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Iowa journalism school in 1971.

In the mid 1970s, while reporting for WKYC-TV in Cleveland, Ross reported on Jackie Presser and corruption in the Teamsters union and interviewed mobster Danny Greene.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2011/03/danny_greene_legendary_clevela.html|title=Danny Greene: Cleveland gangster who inspired 'Kill the Irishman' was a real-life Hollywood archetype|first=Clint|last=O'Conner|publisher=The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)|date=March 6, 2011|access-date=July 26, 2012}} He continued to report on the Teamsters after being hired by NBC News. His reporting on the Teamsters won him a Sigma Delta Chi Award in 1976 and a National Headliner award in 1977.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/brian-ross/story?id=127548&page=2#.UBIVJX9Jc6I|title=Brian Ross|date=November 2010|work=ABC News|access-date=July 26, 2012}} Ross broke the FBI Abscam story while at NBC.{{Cite news|title=ABC's Brian Ross - The Investigative Reporter's Reporter|work=Associated Press|accessdate=December 1, 2021|url=https://apnews.com/article/820849691b47f128a6475623449055db}}

From 1994 to 2018, Ross was a reporter for ABC News, working on programs such as World News with Diane Sawyer, 20/20, Good Morning America, Nightline, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and ABC News Radio.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/author/brian_ross|title=News Published by Brian Ross |website=ABC News}}

In 2009, Ross and his investigative unit reported on Mohamed Atta and described him as the ringleader of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Whistleblowers/911-ringleader-mohammed-atta-stopped-fbi-informant/story?id=8540605|title=Agents Missed Chance to Stop 9/11 Ringleader|date=11 September 2009|website=ABC News|access-date=8 June 2017}} He also reported on Zacarias Moussaoui’s alleged role in the attacks and his questioning by the Federal Bureau of Investigation prior to September 11.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ten-years-ago-today-countdown-911/story?id=14191671|title=While America Slept: The True Story of 9/11|date=24 April 2012|website=ABC News}}

His undercover investigation of nuclear smuggling, which questioned whether American authorities could stop a shipment of radioactive material from entering the country, received the duPont Award in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/page/412-past-dupont-award-winners/594 |title=All duPont-Columbia Award Winners |date=2011|access-date=19 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814182043/http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/page/412-past-dupont-award-winners/594 |archive-date=14 August 2012 }}

On May 24, 2006, Ross first reported that the Justice Department was investigating Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert for possible connections to the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal. Both the Justice Department and Dennis Hastert issued denials, but Ross insisted the story was correct.{{cite web|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2005233&page=1 |title=Hastert Fights Back Against ABC News Report |work=ABC News |date=May 25, 2006 |access-date=October 26, 2010}} He did say that the investigation might eventually "wash out and be nothing".{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501796.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Hastert, Justice Dept. Dispute Inquiry Story | first=Howard | last=Kurtz | date=May 26, 2006 | access-date=April 26, 2010}}

On September 6, 2006, Ross reported that Pakistan had decided not to seek the capture of Osama bin Laden so long as bin Laden acted "like a peaceful citizen".{{cite web|author=Brian Ross Reports |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/pakistan_gives_.html |title=Pakistan Gives Bin Laden Free Pass |work=ABC News|date=September 6, 2006 |access-date=October 26, 2010}} Pakistan denied the report.{{cite web|author=Brian Ross |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/pakistan_denies.html |title=Pakistan Denies Bin Laden Gets a Pass |work=ABC News|date=September 6, 2006 |access-date=October 26, 2010}} The report was based on a telephone interview in which ABC quoted the Pakistani General as saying, "Q. ABC News: If bin Laden or Zawahiri were there, they could stay? A. Gen. Sultan: No one of that kind can stay. If someone is there he will have to surrender, he will have to live like a good citizen, his whereabouts, exit travel would be known to the authorities."{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/Investigation/story?id=2398972|title=Pakistan Denies Bin Laden Gets a Pass | work=ABC News |date=6 September 2006}}

On September 29, 2006, Ross reported that Rep. Mark Foley sent underage male congressional aides sexually explicit internet messages;{{cite web |author=Brian Ross, Rhonda Schwartz & Maddy Sauer Report |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/exclusive_the_s.html |title=Exclusive: The Sexually Explicit Internet Messages That Led to Fla. Rep. Foley's Resignation |work=ABC News |date=September 29, 2006 |access-date=October 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004125029/http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/exclusive_the_s.html |archive-date=October 4, 2006 |url-status=dead }} the ensuing scandal led to Foley's resignation. His 2006 investigation into the Congressional page scandal involving Foley resulted in his fifth Peabody Award for his series of reports: “Conduct Unbecoming”. That series also garnered Ross an Emmy Award,{{Cite web |url=http://emmyonline.com/news_28th_winners| title=28th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards Announces Winners At New York City Gala | website= Emmy Online |date=24 September 2007 | access-date=8 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529093042/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/news_28th_winners_data_list.html |archive-date=29 May 2013 |url-status=live }} a Peabody Award,{{Cite web |url=http://peabodyawards.com/2007/04/66th-annual-peabody-awards-winners-announced/| title=66th Annual Peabody Awards Winners Announced | website= Peabody Awards | date=4 April 2007 | access-date=8 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222043720/http://peabodyawards.com/2007/04/66th-annual-peabody-awards-winners-announced/ | archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=dead }} a USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism,{{Cite web |url=http://www.cronkiteaward.org/view-past-winners.html| title=2007 Winners of the Walter Cronkite Award| website=The Walter Cronkite Award | access-date=8 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222180315/http://www.cronkiteaward.org/view-past-winners.html | archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=dead }} an Investigative Reporters and Editors Award,{{cite web|url=http://ire.org/awards/ire-awards/winners/2006-ire-awards-winners/|title=2006 IRE Awards winners|website=Investigative Reporters and Editors}} the 2007 National Headliner Award for Television Affiliated Online Journalism,{{cite web |url=http://www.headlinerawards.com/Winners2007Broadcast.html |title=2007 Award Recipients – Broadcast Division |website= National Headliners Awards}} and the Online News Association Journalism Award.{{cite web|url=http://journalists.org/awards/past-winners-2007/|title=2007 Awards - Online News Association|website=journalists.org}}

Ross received the 2007 Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting for a two-part "20/20" undercover investigation into retail pharmacy errors, focusing on large drugstore chains, including CVS and Walgreens.{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cbs-evening-news-wins-mur_n_110301 | title= CBS Evening News Wins Murrow Award For "Best Newscast" | website= The Huffington Post | date=9 July 2008 | author1=Shea, Danny }} He also received a 2007 Business Emmy for his work in exposing conflicts of interest of some West Virginia State Supreme Court justices.{{Cite web |url= http://emmyonline.com/business_6th_winners | title= Emmy® Winners Announced For Business & Financial Reporting And Promotional Announcements | website= Emmy Online |date=2 December 2008 | access-date=8 February 2014}}

When the Madoff investment scandal broke in December 2008, Ross covered Bernard Madoff, his family and associates and reported on how the scam had been perpetrated over the years. His reporting on the subject led to his first book, The Madoff Chronicles: Inside the Secret World of Bernie and Ruth, published in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/read-excerpt-madoff-chronicles-brian-ross/story?id=8691679|title=EXCERPT: Brian Ross 'The Madoff Chronicles'|date=12 January 2016|website=ABC News}}

In November 2009, Ross co-wrote an article titled "Officials: Army Told of Hasan's Contacts with al Qaeda", which claimed that Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan had made attempts to "make contact with people associated with al Qaeda".{{cite web |url=http://gawker.com/5401562/how-abc-news-brian-ross-cooked-his-hasan-contacted-al-qaeda-scoop |title=How ABC News' Brian Ross Cooked His 'Hasan Contacted Al Qaeda' Scoop |publisher=Gawker.com |date=November 10, 2009 |access-date=October 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408082004/http://gawker.com/5401562/how-abc-news-brian-ross-cooked-his-hasan-contacted-al-qaeda-scoop |archive-date=April 8, 2010 }}{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/m/screen?id=9030873 |title=Fort Hood Shooter Tried to Contact al Qaeda Terrorists, Officials Say |work=ABC News |access-date=October 26, 2010}} He made the same claims on Good Morning America.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J93Ur8vTjHk |title=Broadcast Yourself |publisher=YouTube |access-date=October 26, 2010}} Other reporters said that Nidal's contact was limited to emails to his former imam, Anwar al-Awlaki, who had also been the imam of two of the September 11 terrorists.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/09/AR2009110902061.html?sid=ST2009110903704 | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Hasan e-mails to Islamic cleric did not result in FBI inquiry | first1= Philip| last1= Rucker| date=November 10, 2009 | access-date=April 26, 2010 | first2=Carrie | last2=Johnson | first3=Ellen | last3=Nakashima}}

In 2010, Ross received his seventh duPont-Columbia Award for the “20/20” investigation “The Coach’s Secret”, which exposed a scandal in youth swimming.{{cite web |url=http://www.dupontfund.org/journalists-receive-alfred-i-dupont-awards-started-by-jessie-ball-dupont-in-1942/| title=Journalists Receive Alfred I. duPont Awards; Started by Jessie Ball duPont in 1942 | website= Jesse Ball duPont Fund | date=2014 | access-date=8 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223182032/http://www.dupontfund.org/journalists-receive-alfred-i-dupont-awards-started-by-jessie-ball-dupont-in-1942/ | archive-date=23 February 2014 |url-status=dead }} This report also earned him a 2011 CINE Golden Eagle Award.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cine.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2011-CINE-Winner-Directory.pdf | title=CINE GOLDEN EAGLE FILM & VIDEO COMPETITION - 2011 WINNER DIRECTORY | website= CINE | date=2012 | access-date=8 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212033158/http://www.cine.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2011-CINE-Winner-Directory.pdf| archive-date=12 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} Ross's investigation, “Taking on Toyota”, which prompted one of the largest automobile recalls in history, was awarded the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association in 2011. This report was publicly disputed by Toyota, which demonstrated that the "Toyota Death Ride" was largely fabricated by experts that were working for several trial lawyers with litigation pending against Toyota.

On July 19, 2011, according to the presidential campaign of Michele Bachmann, when attempting to question Bachmann about her migraines, Ross "rushed toward" Bachmann and her staff and "disregarded repeated requests to stay back".{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/afternoon-fix-bachmann-says-headaches-not-an-issue/2011/07/19/gIQAkEhNOI_blog.html#pagebreak | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 19, 2011 | first=Kimberly | last=Kindy | title=Afternoon Fix: Bachmann says headaches not an issue}} According to Michael Crowley, a reporter for Time who witnessed the resulting intervention by Bachmann staffers, the staffers "pounced on [Ross], grabbing and pushing him multiple times with what looked [...] like unusual force. In fact, [Crowley had] never seen a reporter treated so roughly at a campaign event, especially not a presidential one." Ross said he'd only been treated like that before "mostly by Mafia people."{{cite magazine| url=https://swampland.time.com/2011/07/19/reporter-accosted-after-bachmann-comments-on-migraines/ |title=Reporter Accosted After Bachmann Comments on Migraines| magazine=Time | date=July 19, 2011}}{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/michele-bachmanns-handlers-rough-up-reporter/2011/03/03/gIQA1cFKOI_blog.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 19, 2011 | first=Greg | last=Sargent | title=Should the U.S. seek to improve relations with Iran?}} Ross appeared on The View and various media outlets to discuss the incident.{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/brian-ross-abc-bachmann-shoving-view_n_904669 | title= ABC's Brian Ross Talks Bachmann Staff Shoving On 'The View' (VIDEO) | website= The Huffington Post | date=20 July 2011 | author1=Fung, Katherine }}{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/brian-ross-pushed-by-michele-bachmann-staff-members-14115772|title=Video: Brian Ross on Being Pushed by Bachmann Staff|website=ABC News}}{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/2011/07/21/abc-news-brian-ross-bachmann-bodyguard-scuffle | work=Fox News | title=ABC News' Brian Ross on Bachmann Bodyguard Scuffle | date=July 21, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/07/brian-ross-received-mafia-style-bruising-bachmann-staff/40165/|title=Brian Ross Received 'Mafia'-Style Bruising From Bachmann Staff|first=John|last=Hudson|date=2011-07-19}} The media also underscored 'concerns' regarding Bachmann's health.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/michele-bachmanns-handlers-rough-up-reporter/2011/03/03/gIQA1cFKOI_blog.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Greg | last=Sargent | title=Michele Bachmann's handlers get rough with reporter | date=July 19, 2011}}

Over a 10-month period in 2011, Ross and Anna Schecter reported on the murder of a 24-year-old Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. Ross and Schecter received the 2011 George Polk Award for Television Reporting for this series of reports.{{cite web

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In 2012, Ross earned his sixth George Polk Award,{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/abc-news-investigative-unit-wins-polk-award-peace/story?id=15752486|title=Ross Unit Wins Polk Award for Peace Corps Investigation|date=22 May 2012|website=ABC News}} sixth Peabody Award{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ross-unit-accepts-peabody-award-peace-corps-investigation/story?id=16408433|title=Ross Unit Accepts Peabody Award for Peace Corps Investigation|date=22 May 2012|website=ABC News}} and second Emmy Award,{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/10/abc-news-recognized-with-seven-news-documentary-emmy-awards/|title=ABC News Recognized with Seven News & Documentary Emmy Awards|website=ABC News}}{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}} including best investigation in a news magazine story for his “20/20” investigation “Peace Corps: A Trust Betrayed”, which exposed the cover-up of sexual abuse of Peace Corps volunteers and led to Congressional hearings and calls for new legislation.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/brian-ross-investigates-peace-corps-sex-scandal-osamas/story?id=13589978|title=Brian Ross Investigates: The Peace Corps Rape Scandal|date=15 May 2011|website=ABC News}} He was also the recipient of a 2012 Gracie Award for the report.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/04/abc-news-honored-by-society-of-professional-journalists-with-three-awards/|title=ABC News Honored by Society of Professional Journalists with Three Awards|website=ABC News}}

In 2013, Ross won the Hillman Prize and CINE Golden Eagle Award for his report Tragedy in Bangladesh{{cite web|url=http://www.hillmanfoundation.org/2013-hillman-prizes|title=2013 Hillman Prizes|date=22 April 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cine.org/fall-2013-cine-golden-eagle-recipients/|title=Fall 2013 CINE Golden Eagle Recipients|date=30 September 2014|access-date=8 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126141323/http://www.cine.org/fall-2013-cine-golden-eagle-recipients/|archive-date=26 January 2014|url-status=dead|quote=ABC NEWS BRIAN ROSS INVESTIGATES: TRAGEDY IN BANGLADESH}} and "Outstanding Investigative Program or Feature" at the 2013 Gracie Awards for Undercover Granny: Medicare Fraud.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc-news-wins-five-gracie-awards_b168621|title=ABC News Wins Five Gracie Awards|website=TVNewser}}

Ross and his lead producer, Rhonda Schwartz, were suspended in the wake of his misreporting with regard to the Michael Flynn affair. They were transferred to Lincoln Square Productions upon their return. However, on July 2, 2018, ABC announced Ross and Schwartz were leaving the network.{{cite news |last1=Grynbaum |first1=Michael M. |title=ABC Parts Ways With Investigative Reporter Brian Ross |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/02/business/media/brian-ross-abc-news.html |access-date=6 November 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=2 July 2018|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news |last1=Flood |first1=Brian |title=Brian Ross out at ABC News months after botched report on Donald Trump, Russia tanked stock market |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/brian-ross-out-at-abc-news-months-after-botched-report-on-donald-trump-russia-tanked-stock-market/ |access-date=July 26, 2018 |work=Fox News |date=July 2, 2018}}

In August 2018, Ross and his producer, Rhonda Scnwartz, was hired at the Law & Crime network which “covers trials and crime 24/7,” as a lead investigative reporter and also to host his own weekly show called “Brian Ross Investigates”.{{cite news |title=Former ABC News Reporter Brian Ross Lands Investigative Gig at Law & Crime |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-abc-news-reporter-brian-ross-lands-investigative-gig-at-law-and-crime |access-date=6 November 2019 |work=The Daily Beast |date=August 20, 2018}}

In October 2001, Ross twice falsely linked Iraq to the anthrax attacks in the United States. Both reports, based on anonymous "high level" sources, were denied by the George W. Bush administration.{{cite news |author1=Ross, Brian |author2=Isham, Christopher |author3=Vlasto, Chris |author4=Matsumoto, Gary |title=Troubling Anthrax Additive Found; Atta Met Iraqi |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92270&page=1&singlePage=true |access-date=16 September 2019 |work=ABC News |date=29 October 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414092253/https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92270&page=1&singlePage=true |archive-date=14 April 2014}} In November 2001, Ross "updated" the story, acknowledging that original reports of bentonite in the anthrax samples were incorrect.{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2007/04/11/abc_response/|title=Response from ABC News re: the Saddam-anthrax reports|last=Greenwald|first=Glenn|date=April 11, 2007|access-date=July 26, 2012}} Glenn Greenwald severely criticized Ross for this reporting, opining that Ross unwittingly helped build support for the U.S. invasion of Iraq as a result of his high-profile report.{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/01/anthrax/index.html|title=Vital unresolved anthrax questions and ABC News – Glenn Greenwald|date=August 1, 2008|work=Salon|access-date=October 26, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/04/09/abc_anthrax/index.html|title=The unresolved story of ABC News' false Saddam-anthrax reports – Glenn Greenwald|date=April 9, 2007|work=Salon|access-date=October 26, 2010}} Dan Froomkin asked in an August 5, 2008 column, in The Washington Post: "So who told ABC the powder looked Iraqi?"{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/08/05/BL2008080501703_5.html?hpid=opinionsbox1|title=A White House Forgery Scandal?|last=Froomkin|first=Dan|date=August 5, 2008|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 26, 2010}} The New York Sun reported that Ross was the sixth journalist ordered by a federal judge to reveal his sources for federal anthrax attack stories.{{cite news|url=http://www.nysun.com/national/journalist-ross-of-abc-ordered-to-disclose-sources/63572/|title=Journalist Ross of ABC Ordered To Disclose Sources|date=September 28, 2007|newspaper=New York Sun|access-date=October 26, 2010}}

On January 14, 2004, a report by Ross, Chris Vlasto, and Rhonda Schwartz on the eve of the Iowa caucus linked presidential candidate Howard Dean to a trooper who worked for him when he was Vermont's governor and who had “‘engaged in acts of domestic violence’”.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=131483&page=1|title=Dean's Trooper Accused of Abuse|date=7 January 2006|website=ABC News|access-date=8 June 2017}} ABC News was severely criticized by the Columbia Journalism Review for the report because the report presented no evidence to show that Dean was aware of the abuse when he wrote a character reference for the employee in a custody dispute. There was also evidence to suggest that Dean was unaware of the abuse at that time. The Columbia Journalism described the story as "little more than a smear."{{cite web|url=https://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/abc_an_example_of_abuse.php?page=all|title=ABC: An Example of Abuse|first=Zachary|last=Roth|date=January 15, 2004|access-date=July 25, 2012|publisher=Columbia Journalism Review}}

In 2006, Ross broadcast what he described as a "big scoop" asserting that an al-Qaeda terrorist with links to Bin Laden had been arrested in Pakistan. But the story was untrue. Matiur Rehman, the al-Qaeda explosives expert, was still a fugitive. The Pakistani government called the story "fictitious." ABC retracted the story.{{cite news |last1=Paul Farhi |title=Brian Ross is an investigative reporting star. But he's made some staggering blunders. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/brian-ross-is-an-investigative-reporting-star-but-hes-made-some-staggering-blunders/2017/12/04/f25dbd80-d913-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html?noredirect=on |access-date=3 July 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=4 December 2017 |quote=In 2006, ace ABC News investigative reporter Brian Ross went on the air with a big scoop: Pakistani officials, he reported, had arrested Matiur Rehman, an al-Qaeda explosives expert who kept an "official" list of terrorist recruits. Ross suggested the arrest could lead to Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader who was a fugitive at the time. One problem: Rehman hadn't been arrested. A Pakistani foreign ministry official called the story "fictitious." ABC retracted it.}}

Ross and the ABC News Investigative Team were awarded the 2011 National Edward R. Murrow Award for “Video Continuing Coverage” for their exclusive investigation, “Taking On Toyota”, that revealed how the car company for years ignored complaints from hundreds of its owners about cars suddenly accelerating out of control. As a result, Toyota's market value and sales were driven down. It was later disclosed that Ross had staged the famous “death ride” in a Toyota set up to accelerate without driver input. Ross's report featured a doctored shot of a tachometer suddenly racing to 6,000 rpm.{{cite web | url= https://gawker.com/5486666/how-abc-news-brian-ross-staged-his-toyota-death-ride | author1= Cook, John | date= 5 March 2010 | title= How ABC News' Brian Ross Staged His Toyota Death Ride | work= Gawker }}{{cite web | url=https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/06/shameless-abc-news-requests-and-receives-award-for-brian-ross%E2%80%99s-fakery/ | author1= Schmitt, Bertel | date= 21 June 2011 | title=Shameless ABC News Requests And Receives Award For Brian Ross's Fakery | work= The Truth About Cars | publisher=AutoGuide.com }}{{cite web | url= https://jalopnik.com/the-mechanics-of-abc-news-unintended-toyota-cceleratio-5488464 | author1= Hardigree, Matt | date= 8 March 2010 | title= The Mechanics of ABC News' Unintended Toyota Acceleration Hoax | work= Jalopnik | publisher= Gizmodo Media Group}}{{cite web | url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-wD9MkaL3Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/N-wD9MkaL3Q |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live| date= 8 March 2010 | title= Are Toyota's Accelerators Out of Control? | work= YouTube | publisher= ABC| format=Video}}{{cbignore}}

During coverage of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting, Ross suggested on the air a connection between a member of a Colorado Tea Party group and the shooting, based on the gunman's name, without any confirmed evidence. Describing Ross as one of the most controversial reporters in television journalism, Dylan Byers reported that Ross had come "under attack again" for his reporting.{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2012/07/ross-takes-heat-for-another-blunder-078793|title=Ross takes heat for another blunder|last=Byers|first=Dylan|work=POLITICO|access-date=2017-06-08}}{{cite news| url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/a-misstep-on-gma-as-networks-rush-to-cover-shooting/ | work=The New York Times | first=Brian | last=Stelter | title=A Misstep on 'GMA' as Networks Rush to Cover Shooting | date=July 20, 2012}}{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/20/brian-ross-tea-party-colorado-shooting_n_1689471.html | work=The Huffington Post | first=Jack | last=Mirkinson | title=ABC Reporter Incorrectly Suggests Possible Tea Party Link In CO Shooting | date=July 20, 2012}} Conservative website PJ Media called for his firing.{{Cite news|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2012/07/20/why_is_brian_ross_still_working_for_abc_news_285311.html|title=Why Is Brian Ross Still Working for ABC News? | work=Real Clear Politics|date= 20 July 2012 |access-date=8 June 2017|author1= Moran, Rick|df=mdy-all}} Ross and ABC News President Ben Sherwood apologized for the comment.{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-abcnews-20120726,0,7066540.story | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Joe | last=Flint | title=TCA: ABC News chief apologizes for Aurora mistake by Brian Ross | date=July 26, 2012}}

On December 2, 2017, Ross was given a four-week suspension without pay after erroneously stating during a special report that Michael Flynn was preparing to testify that Donald Trump had directed him to make contact with Russian officials during his presidential campaign.

Ross issued a clarification on World News Tonight later that same day, explaining that Flynn had not been told to make contact with Russian officials until after the election, and that Trump had only asked Flynn and other advisors to "find ways to repair relations with Russia" during his campaign. Ross issued a clarification on World News Tonight later that same day, explaining that Flynn had not been told to make contact with Russian officials until after the election, and that Trump had only asked Flynn and other advisors to "find ways to repair relations with Russia."

"During a live Special Report, ABC News reported that a confidant of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn said Flynn was prepared to testify that then-candidate Donald Trump instructed him to contact Russian officials during the campaign," the network's correction stated. "That source later clarified that during the campaign, Trump assigned Flynn and a small circle of other senior advisers to find ways to repair relations with Russia and other hot spots."

The incorrect report was criticized by conservative commentators, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 350 points after the report.{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/12/02/media/abc-news-brian-ross/|title=ABC News suspends Brian Ross for 4 weeks over erroneous Flynn story|date=2 December 2017 |last=Darcy|first=Oliver|work=CNNMoney|access-date=3 December 2017|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.salon.com/2017/12/02/abc-news-faces-criticism-after-correction-on-bombshell-michael-flynn-report/|title=ABC News faces criticism after correction on bombshell Michael Flynn report|date=2 December 2017|work=Salon|access-date=2 December 2017|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/abc-news-suspends-brian-ross-michael-flynn-1202629002/|title=ABC News Suspends Investigative Reporter Brian Ross for Michael Flynn Error|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=2 December 2017|work=Variety|access-date=3 December 2017|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/01/abc-news-flynn-plea-clarification-conservatives-275981|title=ABC News draws fire for erroneous Trump-Flynn report|work=Politico|date=1 December 2017 |author1=Lima, Cristiano |access-date=3 December 2017|df=mdy-all}}

In early 2018, after Ross served a four-week unpaid suspension, he returned as a chief investigative correspondent, but with a separate unit of ABC, Lincoln Square Productions.{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/01/05/media/brian-ross-abc-news/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom|title=Brian Ross is returning to ABC News, but with a different job|last=Stelter|first=Brian|work=CNNMoney|date=5 January 2018|access-date=9 January 2018}} However, in July, ABC announced Ross was leaving the network.

• 1974 – Peabody Award: WCKTV “A Superb Series of Investigative Reports Which Brought Considerable Response & Change”{{cite web|url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/stories/story/peabody-awards-book|title=George Foster Peabody Award Winners Book|website=www.peabodyawards.com|access-date=2015-02-13|archive-date=2014-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007024156/http://www.peabodyawards.com/stories/story/peabody-awards-book|url-status=dead}}
• 1974/75 – duPont-Columbia Award: “Teamster Power” (WKYC){{cite web |url=http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/page/412/4| title=All duPont-Columbia Award Winners | website=Columbia Journalism School | publisher=Columbia University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319152709/http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/page/412/4 | archive-date=19 March 2012}}
• 1983 – duPont- Columbia Award: “Outstanding Investigative Reporting”
• 1985 – duPont Columbia Award: “Outstanding Investigative Reporting"
• 1988 – George Polk Award: “War on Drugs/Money Laundering” (NBC){{cite web|url=https://liu.edu/George-Polk-Awards/Past-Winners#1988|title=George Polk Awards/Past Winners 1988|website=Long Island University}}
• 1990 – Overseas Press Club Award: “Nuclear Power" •1991 Overseas Press Club Award – “French Spies”{{cite web |url=https://opcofamerica.org/opc-awards-contest-rules/archive-award/ | title=Awards Recipients | website=Overseas Press Club of America |quote= The David Kaplan Award 1990; Brian Ross, Ira Silverman; NBC News: The Carl Spielvogel Award 1991; Brian Ross, Rhonda Schwartz ; NBC: The Carl Spielvogel Award 1994; Brian Ross, Rhonda Schwartz, Brenda Breslauer, Jill Rackmill; Dateline NBC: The Eric & Amy Burger Award 1997; Brian Ross, Rhonda Schwartz, David Rummel, Phyllis Mcgrady; ABC News-Primetime Live}}
• 1991 – Peabody Award: NBC News “B.C.C.I.”
• 1992 – George Polk Award: “Made in the USA” (NBC){{cite web|url=https://liu.edu/George-Polk-Awards/Past-Winners#1992|title=George Polk Awards/Past Winners 1992|website=Long Island University}}
• 1994 – Overseas Press Club Award: “Made in China”
• 1997 – George Polk Award: “Blood Money”{{cite web|url=https://liu.edu/George-Polk-Awards/Past-Winners#1997|title=George Polk Awards/Past Winners 1997|website=Long Island University}}
• 1997 – Overseas Press Club Award: “Blood Money”
• 1998 – George Polk Award: “Shame of Saipan”{{cite web|url=https://liu.edu/George-Polk-Awards/Past-Winners#1998|title=George Polk Awards/Past Winners 1998|website=Long Island University}}
• 1998 – IRE Tom Renner Award: “Blood Money”{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/130796/|title=WRAL Wins Investigative Report Honors :: WRAL.com|last=WRAL|date=12 March 1998 }}
• 1998 – Overseas Press Club Award: “Nazi Stolen Art”
• 1999 – Peabody Award: “These Were Our Children”
• 2001 – Emmy Award: “ABC News Post 9/11 Investigation”{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-12-wk-emmys12-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=PBS Takes Top Emmy Honors | date=September 12, 2002}}
• 2001 – Peabody Award: “Coverage of September 11th"
• 2001 – Sigma Delta Chi: “ABC News 9-11 Investigation”{{cite web|url=http://www.spj.org/news.asp?ref=239|title=SPJ News – Society of Professional Journalists|website=www.spj.org}}
• 2001 – Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award and Bronze Medallion: “Investigative Reports Post 9/11”{{cite web|url=http://www.spj.org/sdxa11.asp|title=Sigma Delta Chi Awards – Society of Professional Journalists|website=www.spj.org}}
• 2001/02 – duPont-Columbia Award: “Coverage of 9/11”
• 2002 National Headliner Award: “From the Tower”{{cite web |url=http://www.headlinerawards.com/2002-award-recipients-broadcast-division/ | title=2002 Award Recipients – Broadcast Division, Feature or Human Interest Story | website=National Headliner Awards |quote= First Place: ABC, Brian Ross & Jill Rackmill, “From the Tower”}}
• 2003 – Gerald Loeb Award for Television Short Form business journalism: Enron Document Shredding{{cite web|url=http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/media-relations/2003/2003-loeb-awards|title=2003 Loeb Awards – UCLA Anderson School of Management|website=www.anderson.ucla.edu}}
• 2003/04 – duPont-Columbia Award: “The Nuclear Smuggling Project”
• 2004 – National Headliner Award: “Charities Investigation”{{cite web | url=http://www.headlinerawards.com/2004-award-recipients-broadcast-division/| title=2004 Award Recipients – Broadcast Division, Investigative Reporting | website=National Headliner Awards |quote= First Place: ABC News, Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, “Charity Investigation”}}
• 2005 – Center for Public Integrity's International Consortium of Journalists: “UN Misconduct in the Congo”{{bulleted list|{{cite web |url=https://www.icij.org/about/awards/daniel-pearl-awards/| title=Daniel Pearl Awards | website= International Consortium Investigative Journalists | date=16 October 2017 | access-date=15 September 2019| quote=Brian Ross, David Wilson Scott, and Rhonda Schwarts, ABC News 20/20, Peace at What Price: Investigating UN Misconduct in the Congo documented systematic sexual exploitation of girls and boys by UN peacekeepers and civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo}}|{{cite news |author1=Ross, Brian |author2=Scott, David |author3=Schwartz, Rhonda |title=Peace at What Price?: U.N. Sex Crimes in Congo |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/UnitedNations/story?id=489306&page=1 |access-date=15 September 2019 |work=ABC News |date=10 February 2005}}}}
• 2005 – George Polk Award: “CIA Secret Prisons”{{cite web|url=https://liu.edu/George-Polk-Awards/Past-Winners#2005|title=George Polk Awards/Past Winners 2005|website=Long Island University}}
• 2005 – Emmy Award: “The Money Trail”{{cite news |last1=Gough |first1=Paul J. |title=NBC News wins Emmy for Katrina coverage |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/nbc-news-wins-emmy-katrina-coverage-wbna15012193 |access-date=15 September 2019 |work=The Today Show |publisher=NBC News |date=26 September 2006 |quote=winning for investigative journalism in a nightly newscast was the "Money Trail" series on ABC's "World News Tonight" about big money and politics.}}
• 2006 – Emmy Award: “Conduct Unbecoming”{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=3053354&page=1|title=Brian Ross & the Investigative Team Nab Honors|date=25 September 2007|website=ABC News}}
• 2006 – Peabody Award:"Conduct Unbecoming"[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/abc-news-brian-ross-investigates-conduct-unbecoming 66th Annual Peabody Awards], May 2007.
• 2007 – National Headliner Award: "Mugus and Masters” and “The Mark Foley Investigation”{{bulleted list|{{cite web |url=http://www.headlinerawards.com/2007-award-recipients-broadcast-division/ | title=2007 Award Recipients – Broadcast Division, Investigative Reporting| website=National Headliner Awards |quote= First Place: ABC News 20/20, “Brian Ross Investigates: Mugus and Masters”}} |{{cite web |url=http://www.headlinerawards.com/2007-award-recipients-broadcast-division/ | title=2007 Award Recipients – Broadcast Division, Television Affiliated Online Journalism | website=National Headliner Awards |quote= First Place: ABC News, New York, N.Y., “The Mark Foley Investigation”}}}}
• 2007 – Peabody Award: “Conduct Unbecoming-The Mark Foley Scandal"
• 2007 – RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award: “The Mark Foley Investigation”{{cite web|url=https://www.rtdna.org/content/2007_national_edward_r_murrow_award_winners|title=RTDNA; 2007 Murrow National Winners|website=Radio Television Digital News Association|quote=Investigative Reporting: ABC News Radio, Brian Ross Investigates: The Mark Foley Scandal|access-date=2019-09-15|archive-date=2021-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228165439/https://www.rtdna.org/content/2007_national_edward_r_murrow_award_winners|url-status=dead}}
• 2007 – USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Award: “The Mark Foley Investigation”{{cite web | url= http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48735338_media_brian_ross_abc_news_investigative_team_win_2007_online_news_association_journalism_aw |

title= Brian Ross, ABC News' Investigative Team Win 2007 Online News Association Journalism Award

| website = AllAmericanPatriots.com | date= 22 October 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140208174136/http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48735338_media_brian_ross_abc_news_investigative_team_win_2007_online_news_association_journalism_aw | archive-date= 8 February 2014 |quote=The Investigative Unit has won numerous awards for its reporting on the Mark Foley …the USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Award, a National Headliner Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award.}}

• 2007/08 – duPont-Columbia Award– “Afghanistan: The Forgotten War”
• 2007/08 – Emmy Award: “The Multi-Million Dollar Appeal”{{cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/morning-reading-list-12-03-08_b14185|title=Morning Reading List, 12.03.08}}
• 2008 – RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award: “Pharmacy Errors”{{bulleted list|{{cite web|url=https://www.rtdna.org/content/2008_national_edward_r_murrow_award_winners|title=RTDNA; 2008 Murrow National Winners |website=Radio Television Digital News Association|quote=Investigative Reporting: ABC News, Brian Ross Investigates: Prescription for Error}}|{{cite web|url=http://news.yale.edu/2010/09/17/journalist-discuss-scams-scandals-and-scoundrels|title=Journalist to discuss 'Scams, Scandals and Scoundrels|date=17 September 2010|website=Yale News |publisher=Yale University}}}}
• 2009 – Emmy Award: “Presidential Inauguration – Barack Obama”{{cite web |url= http://emmyonline.com/news_31st_nominations |title= THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES ANNOUNCES WINNERS AT THE 31st ANNUAL NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY® AWARDS |website= Emmy Online |date= 27 September 2010 |quote= OUTSTANDING LIVE COVERAGE OF A CURRENT NEWS STORY – LONG FORM, ABC News Special Events, Inauguration 2009 Barack Obama |access-date= 15 September 2019 |archive-date= 29 September 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200929071439/http://emmyonline.com/news_31st_nominations |url-status= dead }}
• 2011 – duPont-Columbia Award: “The Coach’s Secret”
• 2011 – CINE Golden Eagle Award: “The Coach’s Secret”
• 2011 – George Polk Award- “Peace Corps: A Trust Betrayed”{{cite web|url=https://liu.edu/George-Polk-Awards/Past-Winners#2011|title=George Polk Awards/Past Winners 2011|website=Long Island University}}
• 2011 – RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award: “Taking on Toyota”{{cite web|url=http://www.rtdna.org/content/2011_murrow_national_winners#.UvZlfGJdXTo|title=RTDNA; 2011 National Edward R. Murrow Award winners|website=Radio Television Digital News Association|quote=Video Continuing Coverage, ABC News, Brian Ross Investigates: Taking on Toyota|access-date=2014-02-08|archive-date=2014-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007085120/http://www.rtdna.org/content/2011_murrow_national_winners#.UvZlfGJdXTo|url-status=dead}}
• 2012 – Emmy Award: Best Report in News Magazine- “Peace Corps: A Trust Betrayed”{{cite web | url=http://emmyonline.com/news_33rd_winners | title=Winners Announced for the 33rd Annual News & Documentary Emmy® Awards | website=Emmy Online | date=2012 | publisher=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences | access-date=2019-09-14 | archive-date=2020-09-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929082024/http://emmyonline.com/news_33rd_winners | url-status=dead }}
• 2012 – Gracie Award: “Peace Corps: A Trust Betrayed”
• 2013 – CINE Golden Eagle Award: “Tragedy in Bangladesh”
• 2013 – Gracie Award: “Undercover Granny: Medicare Fraud”{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/medicare-fraud-investigation-earns-gracie-award/story?id=18602485|title=Undercover Grandma Medicare Fraud Investigation Earns Gracie Award|date=26 February 2013|website=ABC News}}
• 2014 – Gerald Loeb Award for Investigative Business Journalism: "Breathless and Burdened: Dying from Black Lung, Buried by Law and Medicine"{{cite web|title=UCLA Anderson School of Management Announces 2014 Gerald Loeb Award Winners|url=http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/media-relations/2014/2014-gerald-loeb-awards|website=UCLA Anderson School of Management|date=24 June 2014|access-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201120336/http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/media-relations/2014/2014-gerald-loeb-awards|archive-date=1 February 2019|url-status=dead}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=127548 Biography] at ABC News
• {{C-SPAN|31549}}
• {{Charlie Rose view|343}}
• {{IMDb name|0743277}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_kbFvx-J3Q/ Brian Ross interviewed on Conversations from Penn State]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071114183542/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06%2F01%2F04%2F1524256 Brian Ross interview] by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! about the forced abortions in the Mariana Islands. (January 4, 2006)
• {{YouTube|gHqRH4Cx8A8|Brian Ross breaks United States Department of Justice Grants Scandal}}

{{GeraldLoebAward Investigative}}

{{GeraldLoebAward Television}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Brian}}

Category:American television reporters and correspondents

Category:People from Decatur, Illinois

Category:George Polk Award recipients

Category:American investigative journalists

Category:1948 births

Category:Living people

Category:NBC News people

Category:University of Iowa alumni

Category:Gerald Loeb Award winners for Investigative

Category:Highland Park High School (Illinois) alumni

Category:Gerald Loeb Award winners for Television

Category:Peabody Award winners