Derek Myers
{{short description|American journalist}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox journalist
| name = Derek Myers
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Derek Joel Myers
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Ohio, U.S.
| occupation = Journalist, investigative reporter
| employer =
| known_for = Investigative journalism, First Amendment advocacy
| notable_works = Reporting on government corruption and police misconduct
| awards =
| website =
}}
Derek Joel Myers is an American journalist.{{cite web |title=The Enquirer Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/11/derek-myers-running-2nd-congressional-district-ohio/72663079007/ |website=The Cincinnati Enquirer}} Myers most notably spent 35 days in jail for fabricated charges filed against him by a police chief in Ohio.{{cite web |last1=Terr |first1=Aaron |title=Hey Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Derek Myers would really like his property back {{!}} The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression |url=https://www.thefire.org/news/hey-pike-county-sheriffs-office-derek-myers-would-really-his-property-back |website=Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression |language=en |date=8 November 2023}} The case was investigated by the FBI, which led to Myers being exonerated and the settlement of a $2.5 million federal civil rights lawsuit in his favor.{{cite web |title=Derek Myers |url=https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/author/derekmyers/ |website=Scioto Valley Guardian}}{{cite web |title=Myers v. Village of New Holland et al |url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/27851658/Myers_v_Village_of_New_Holland_et_al |website=PacerMonitor}}
Early life and education
Myers was born in Ohio to Dorraine Downing, a home health nurse, and Richard Myers. His parents separated when he was five. Myers grew up as an only child in Jeffersonville, Ohio, raised by his maternal grandmother.{{cite web |title=Two more complaints filed against Myers |url=https://www.recordherald.com/news/20710/two-more-complaints-filed-against-myers |website=Record Herald}}
Career
= Public service =
As a teenager, Myers joined "The Pound Posse," advocating to ban gas chambers in Ohio animal shelters. Their efforts culminated in the passage of Senate Bill 164, signed by Governor Mike DeWine in 2023.{{cite web |title=Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs several bills into law |url=https://www.13abc.com/2023/01/03/ohio-gov-mike-dewine-signs-several-bills-into-law/ |website=13 ABC}}{{cite web |title=Ohio advocates push stricter animal cruelty punishments |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/life/pets/ohio-advocates-push-stricter-animal-cruelty-punishments/95-48e8eb01-4d12-4171-86b6-ada7be9acf8b |website=WKYC}}
In 2020, Myers lobbied successfully for the return of a police K-9, Harry, to his former handler, Rob Morningstar, following Morningstar's resignation from the Circleville Police Department.{{cite web |title=Harry the K-9 is coming home |url=https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2020/03/31/harry-the-k-9-is-coming-home/ |website=Scioto Valley Guardian}}{{cite web |title=Council rethinks K-9 Harry decision |url=https://www.circlevilleherald.com/news/council-rethinks-k-harry-decision/article_f498c693-b53f-58e7-b5d0-fb4aff64e313.html |website=Circleville Herald}}
Myers is an advocate for homelessness prevention and diabetes awareness.{{cite web |title=The Race of Fayette County a huge success |url=https://www.recordherald.com/news/183/the-race-of-fayette-county-a-huge-success |website=Record Herald}}{{cite web |title=The Race 13 to take off June 10 |url=https://www.recordherald.com/news/6948/the-race-13-to-take-off-june-10 |website=Record Herald}}
In 2022, Myers ran for a seat on Chillicothe city council as a Democrat. He ran for an open congressional seat in his home district in the March 2024 primary as a Republican.{{cite web |title=Ohio Republican Congressional candidate sought office as a Democrat in 2022 |url=https://www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-ohio/ohio-republican-congressional-candidate-sought-office-as-a-democrat-in-2022 |website=WCPO 9 Cincinnati |language=en |date=24 January 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Glynn |first1=Erin |title=Ohio congressional candidate accidentally concedes race hours before the polls closed |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/19/ohio-gop-candidate-derek-myers-accidentally-concedes-race/73032774007/ |website=The Cincinnati Enquirer}}{{cite web |title=Republican accidentally concedes election before polls close |url=https://www.newsweek.com/republican-derek-myers-ohio-accidentally-concedes-election-before-polls-close-1881038 |website=Newsweek |language=en |date=19 March 2024}}
= Journalism =
Myers began his journalism career at WCHO-FM and later became a television reporter. He worked at WCJB-TV in Florida, where he focused on police corruption and government accountability. In 2015, he joined WVLA-TV in Baton Rouge but was fired after questioning Senator David Vitter about a scandal.{{cite web |title=Reporter claims he was fired for asking Louisiana Senator about scandal |url=https://www.gawker.com/reporter-claims-he-was-fired-for-asking-louisiana-senat-1729686956 |website=Gawker}}{{cite web |title=Voters react to Vitter's absence |url=https://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/voters-react-to-vitters-absence/ |website=BR Proud}}
In 2017, Myers launched the Justice Network's Columbus affiliate, WDEM-CD, and in 2019, he founded the Scioto Valley Guardian news website. By 2020, the Guardian expanded with a Washington D.C. bureau, and Myers became a White House Correspondent.{{cite web |title=Justice Network debuts with John Walsh |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/justice-network-debuts-with-john-walsh/ |website=TV News Check}}
= Legal challenges =
Myers, in one notable case, was jailed for 35 days on fabricated charges by a New Holland, Ohio police chief. The FBI later investigated, leading to Myers' exoneration and a $2.5 million civil rights lawsuit settlement.
In 2022, Myers won a landmark lawsuit against the Chillicothe Police Department, changing public records law in Ohio. He also successfully sued for courtroom access during the Pike County Massacre trial.{{cite web |title=Ohio journalist wins public records case |url=https://www.courtnewsohio.gov/cases/2022/SCO/0609/201469_210211.asp |website=Court News Ohio}}{{cite web |title=Pike County Sheriff indicted on 16 charges |url=https://local12.com/news/local/pike-county-sheriff-indicted-on-sixteen-charges-cincinnati |website=Local 12}}{{cite web |title=Pike County Sheriff suspended amid investigation |url=https://www.wlwt.com/article/pike-county-sheriff-suspended-amid-criminal-investigation/28355241 |website=WLWT}}
In 2023, Myers was arrested at a nursing home fire scene but was released after the charges were dismissed by the Sheriff.{{cite web |title=Ohio journalist arrested, charges dismissed |url=https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2023/10/10/editorial-the-arrest-of-our-editor-in-chief/ |website=Scioto Valley Guardian}}
References
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Category:Investigative journalists
Category:First Amendment scholars