Selwyn Raab
| Selwyn Raab | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
June 26, 1934 New York City |
| Occupation | Journalist, Writer, Investigative Reporter |
| Language | English |
| Alma mater | City College of New York |
| Genres |
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| Subjects |
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| Years active | 1956–present |
| Spouse | Helene Lurie |
| Children | Marian |
Selwyn Raab (born June 26, 1934 in New York City) is an American journalist, author and former investigative reporter for The New York Times. He has written extensively about the American Mafia and criminal justice issues.
A native New Yorker, Raab grew up on Manhattan's Lower East Side. He attended Seward Park High School and later graduated from the City College of New York where he received a B.A. degree in English Literature in 1956. At City College he was campus correspondent for The Times and an editor of Observation Post, a student newspaper. His first jobs as a reporter were with the Bridgeport Sunday Herald newspaper in Bridgeport, Connecticut and The Star-Ledger newspaper in Newark, New Jersey.
From 1960 to 1966, he joined the New York World-Telegram and Sun. He was originally assigned as an education reporter. On the education beat he covered declining reading and mathematics test scores, attempts to unionize teachers and racial integration disputes until he discovered that mob-connected contractors were behind a major scandal concerning improper construction and renovation which endangered the safety of thousands of students in the school system.
Later as investigative reporter at the New York World-Telegram, he was instrumental in finding evidence that exonerated George Whitmore Jr. of false charges for having slain Janice Wylie and Emily Hoffert in the notorious Career Girl murders in 1963. He also uncovered evidence that led to the dismissal of a third murder accusation against Whitmore.
While producer and news editor for WNBC television news, (1966-1971), Raab also wrote a book about the case Justice in the Back Room, published in 1967. The book was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America for Best Fact Crime Book in 1968.Universal Studios bought the television rights, transforming Raab into a fictional detective named Theo Kojak, portrayed by Telly Savalas in the series Kojak. The series ran for five years. The series was spun off from the CBS television movie, The Marcus-Nelson Murders which won 2 Emmy Awards in 1973.
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