Carl Prine
Encyclopedia
Carl Prine is a military investigative reporter
for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
, who has been involved in a number of investigations into the security of various US facilities. While working with a reporter from 60 Minutes
, he helped in the production of a television special that investigated the failings of security at US chemical plants, which received national attention from the media and the government. Subsequently, he re-enlisted in the military for a tour
in Iraq
.
.
Beginning in 2002 and through 2003, Prine started an investigation into the security of chemical plants against terrorism and sabotage. His preliminary results were published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in a segment called "Think Like A Terrorist". There was some backlash against the report, but the government was moved to draw up a bill requiring chemical plants to lessen the amount of dangerous chemicals they kept. The bill, however, was "lobbied into oblivion" by the American Chemistry Council
.
Not long afterward, Prine began working with 60 Minutes
reporter Steve Kroft and continued his investigation of chemical plants to obtain further evidence. The standard procedure they employed was to walk into restricted areas in chemical plants and leave a business card on the hazardous materials storage tanks. However, on September 22, 2003, during an investigation of a chemical plant on Neville Island, after walking into the facility unabated and inspecting the boron trifluoride
tanks, they confronted the security manager of the plant upon exiting and he immediately called the police. They were convicted for the offense of trespassing by the District Court, but the verdict was overturned upon appeal at the Allegheny County Courthouse
. The team still obtained enough footage from their investigation and a 60 Minutes special aired on November 16, 2003, which discussed Prine's findings that "in many of 60 plants he visited across the country, he was able to walk through wide-open gates to areas where toxic or explosive chemicals were stored." The Neville Island chemical plant responded to the report by saying that it was "misleading" and based on "worst-case data". Not long after the airing, the chemical plant was dropped from the list of members of the American Chemistry Council
.
Even though Prine had been working as a journalist before then, in 2005, he decided to re-enlist in the National Guard, having been a Marine before becoming a journalist, and took a tour
in Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion
of the 110th Infantry
of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard
. During the tour, his unit was assigned to an area in between Ramadi
and Fallujah
.
After returning from his tour, Prine started a new investigation into "the vulnerability of the nation's 150,000 miles of railroad tracks and, specifically, the thousands of tanks cars rumbling over them every day." During his investigation, Prine found that a list of hundreds of vulnerabilities of the railroad had been compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration
, but that none of the information on the list seemed to have been fixed by major railroad companies or the government itself since the list's creation. After the release of his report on the security of the US railroad system, Prine was accused by multiple railroad companies of trying to give terrorists information on how to attack the United States. The owner of the Railroad Development Corporation, Henry Posner, stated that Prine was "profiting from the promotion of hysteria."
Prine's reporting on football is extensive and he was cited in a 2008 report by the United States House Committee on the Judiciary
for his information on the extremely high injury rates in the NFL compared to other professional sports.
'Wounded Warriors
Most recently Carl Prine authored an investigative series in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
on the inadequacy of care for wounded US soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.
This series of articles, based on nine months of investigation, has shed light on care delayed by red tape, shoddy facilities, and bureaucratic maneuvering to evade scrutiny and responsibility for the shortcomings of medical care for wounded troops.
Investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, also known as "the Trib," is the second largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, who has been involved in a number of investigations into the security of various US facilities. While working with a reporter from 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, he helped in the production of a television special that investigated the failings of security at US chemical plants, which received national attention from the media and the government. Subsequently, he re-enlisted in the military for a tour
Tour of duty
In the Navy, a tour of duty is a period of time spent performing operational duties at sea, including combat, performing patrol or fleet duties, or assigned to service in a foreign country....
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Career
In his early years of reporting before joining the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in 2000, Prine worked withThe Daily Reporter. After leaving the Reporter, he was involved in covering numerous battlefield situations, such as "wars in Sierra Leone, Liberia and five other nations." Later, he served as a correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor in Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
.
Beginning in 2002 and through 2003, Prine started an investigation into the security of chemical plants against terrorism and sabotage. His preliminary results were published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in a segment called "Think Like A Terrorist". There was some backlash against the report, but the government was moved to draw up a bill requiring chemical plants to lessen the amount of dangerous chemicals they kept. The bill, however, was "lobbied into oblivion" by the American Chemistry Council
American Chemistry Council
The American Chemistry Council , formerly known as the Manufacturing Chemists' Association and then as the Chemical Manufacturers' Association , is an industry trade association for American chemical companies, based in Washington, D.C.-Activities:The mission of the American Chemistry Council is...
.
Not long afterward, Prine began working with 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
reporter Steve Kroft and continued his investigation of chemical plants to obtain further evidence. The standard procedure they employed was to walk into restricted areas in chemical plants and leave a business card on the hazardous materials storage tanks. However, on September 22, 2003, during an investigation of a chemical plant on Neville Island, after walking into the facility unabated and inspecting the boron trifluoride
Boron trifluoride
Boron trifluoride is the chemical compound with the formula BF3. This pungent colourless toxic gas forms white fumes in moist air. It is a useful Lewis acid and a versatile building block for other boron compounds.-Structure and bonding:...
tanks, they confronted the security manager of the plant upon exiting and he immediately called the police. They were convicted for the offense of trespassing by the District Court, but the verdict was overturned upon appeal at the Allegheny County Courthouse
Allegheny County Courthouse
Allegheny County Courthouse is a government building of Allegheny County located in the county seat, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.- Early structures:...
. The team still obtained enough footage from their investigation and a 60 Minutes special aired on November 16, 2003, which discussed Prine's findings that "in many of 60 plants he visited across the country, he was able to walk through wide-open gates to areas where toxic or explosive chemicals were stored." The Neville Island chemical plant responded to the report by saying that it was "misleading" and based on "worst-case data". Not long after the airing, the chemical plant was dropped from the list of members of the American Chemistry Council
American Chemistry Council
The American Chemistry Council , formerly known as the Manufacturing Chemists' Association and then as the Chemical Manufacturers' Association , is an industry trade association for American chemical companies, based in Washington, D.C.-Activities:The mission of the American Chemistry Council is...
.
Even though Prine had been working as a journalist before then, in 2005, he decided to re-enlist in the National Guard, having been a Marine before becoming a journalist, and took a tour
Tour of duty
In the Navy, a tour of duty is a period of time spent performing operational duties at sea, including combat, performing patrol or fleet duties, or assigned to service in a foreign country....
in Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of the 110th Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Pennsylvania Army National Guard
The Pennsylvania Army National Guard, abbreviated PAARNG, is part of the United States Army National Guard and is based in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
. During the tour, his unit was assigned to an area in between Ramadi
Ramadi
Ramadi is a city in central Iraq, about west of Baghdad. It is the capital of Al Anbar Governorate.-History:Ramadi is located in a fertile, irrigated, alluvial plain.The Ottoman Empire founded Ramadi in 1869...
and Fallujah
Fallujah
Fallujah is a city in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, located roughly west of Baghdad on the Euphrates. Fallujah dates from Babylonian times and was host to important Jewish academies for many centuries....
.
After returning from his tour, Prine started a new investigation into "the vulnerability of the nation's 150,000 miles of railroad tracks and, specifically, the thousands of tanks cars rumbling over them every day." During his investigation, Prine found that a list of hundreds of vulnerabilities of the railroad had been compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
, but that none of the information on the list seemed to have been fixed by major railroad companies or the government itself since the list's creation. After the release of his report on the security of the US railroad system, Prine was accused by multiple railroad companies of trying to give terrorists information on how to attack the United States. The owner of the Railroad Development Corporation, Henry Posner, stated that Prine was "profiting from the promotion of hysteria."
Prine's reporting on football is extensive and he was cited in a 2008 report by the United States House Committee on the Judiciary
United States House Committee on the Judiciary
The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, also called the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement...
for his information on the extremely high injury rates in the NFL compared to other professional sports.
'Wounded WarriorsWounded Warrior ProjectThe Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "honor and empower wounded warriors" of the United States Armed Forces...
' Series
Most recently Carl Prine authored an investigative series in the Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewPittsburgh Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, also known as "the Trib," is the second largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
on the inadequacy of care for wounded US soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.
This series of articles, based on nine months of investigation, has shed light on care delayed by red tape, shoddy facilities, and bureaucratic maneuvering to evade scrutiny and responsibility for the shortcomings of medical care for wounded troops.
See also
- Brad BumstedBrad BumstedBrad Bumsted is a prominent journalist in Pennsylvania, working for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. He is noted for writing "reform minded stories" about the Pennsylvania General Assembly....
- Randy BishRandy BishRandy Bish is an American editorial cartoonist working for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.He is the recipient of a Golden Quill Award and was a 2002 winner in the Iranian International Cartoon Contest....
- Military.comMilitary.comMilitary.com is the website created by Military Advantage to be a portal for U.S. military members. In early 2004, Military Advantage was purchased by Monster Worldwide. The company's main revenue streams are advertising, military-themed products and lead generation for military recruiters...
External links
- Carl Prine's Line of Departure Blog
- The Expose Blog: Carl Prine Archives
- Carl Prine on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Carl Prine on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...