Wyatt Massey
@news4mass.bsky.social
Today is my final day with Spotlight PA, wrapping up 3.5 years reporting on Penn State University.
We (un)covered major stories — from canceling the Center for Racial Justice to campus closures to problems in the health system.
I'm incredibly thankful to have worked with such a fantastic team.
We (un)covered major stories — from canceling the Center for Racial Justice to campus closures to problems in the health system.
I'm incredibly thankful to have worked with such a fantastic team.
December 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Today is my final day with Spotlight PA, wrapping up 3.5 years reporting on Penn State University.
We (un)covered major stories — from canceling the Center for Racial Justice to campus closures to problems in the health system.
I'm incredibly thankful to have worked with such a fantastic team.
We (un)covered major stories — from canceling the Center for Racial Justice to campus closures to problems in the health system.
I'm incredibly thankful to have worked with such a fantastic team.
I spoke with WPSU this week about our investigation of the Penn State Cancer Institute and the importance of journalism in Pennsylvania.
You can listen here: radio.wpsu.org/2025-12-18/s...
You can listen here: radio.wpsu.org/2025-12-18/s...
Spotlight PA reporter on his Penn State Cancer Institute investigation and director's resignation
The day after Spotlight PA published an investigation into the Penn State Cancer Institute, director Raymond Hohl resigned. The newsroom talked with employees who said there were chemotherapy mistakes...
radio.wpsu.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I spoke with WPSU this week about our investigation of the Penn State Cancer Institute and the importance of journalism in Pennsylvania.
You can listen here: radio.wpsu.org/2025-12-18/s...
You can listen here: radio.wpsu.org/2025-12-18/s...
headline's an all-timer
December 11, 2025 at 9:46 PM
headline's an all-timer
Happy to share that @columjournreview.bsky.social mentioned our Penn State Cancer Institute project in its 'Laurels and Darts' newsletter today.
December 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Happy to share that @columjournreview.bsky.social mentioned our Penn State Cancer Institute project in its 'Laurels and Darts' newsletter today.
Did a TV interview talking about our recent stories on the Penn State Cancer Institute.
You can watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SF6...
You can watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SF6...
Penn State Cancer Institute Investigation | On The Issues
YouTube video by PCNTV
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Did a TV interview talking about our recent stories on the Penn State Cancer Institute.
You can watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SF6...
You can watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SF6...
Remember those internal Penn State board documents that we've been waiting more than two years to get?
Well, the wait continues. Penn State has appealed to the Pa. Supreme Court.
Well, the wait continues. Penn State has appealed to the Pa. Supreme Court.
Penn State challenges release of internal trustee records
Penn State and the PA Dept. of Education filed petitions with the state Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling on the release of trustee documents.
www.spotlightpa.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Remember those internal Penn State board documents that we've been waiting more than two years to get?
Well, the wait continues. Penn State has appealed to the Pa. Supreme Court.
Well, the wait continues. Penn State has appealed to the Pa. Supreme Court.
BREAKING: The director of the Penn State Cancer Institute resigned Friday following a Spotlight PA investigation into his care of patients and leadership of the center.
November 21, 2025 at 11:44 PM
BREAKING: The director of the Penn State Cancer Institute resigned Friday following a Spotlight PA investigation into his care of patients and leadership of the center.
Reposted by Wyatt Massey
Penn State’s internal reviews found a top doctor’s alarming errors and disruptive leadership. He remains in charge of the cancer center.
https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2025/11/penn-state-health-cancer-institute-raymond-hohl-penn-state/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2025/11/penn-state-health-cancer-institute-raymond-hohl-penn-state/
Internal reviews found Penn State cancer chief’s errors, ‘toxic’ leadership
Despite documented warnings and calls for action, Penn State has stood by Raymond Hohl as it pursues a prestigious National Cancer Institute designation.
www.spotlightpa.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Penn State’s internal reviews found a top doctor’s alarming errors and disruptive leadership. He remains in charge of the cancer center.
https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2025/11/penn-state-health-cancer-institute-raymond-hohl-penn-state/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2025/11/penn-state-health-cancer-institute-raymond-hohl-penn-state/
Today we have a follow-up story on endemic problems within the cancer research unit of the Penn State Cancer Institute.
Please give it a read.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Please give it a read.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
November 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Today we have a follow-up story on endemic problems within the cancer research unit of the Penn State Cancer Institute.
Please give it a read.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Please give it a read.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
A Spotlight PA investigation found the head of the Penn State Cancer Institute was repeatedly under internal review in recent years for extra chemo doses, unexplained delays in changing treatments, and creating a 'toxic' workplace.
Internal reviews found Penn State cancer chief’s errors, ‘toxic’ leadership
Despite documented warnings and calls for action, Penn State has stood by Raymond Hohl as it pursues a prestigious National Cancer Institute designation.
www.spotlightpa.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:29 PM
A Spotlight PA investigation found the head of the Penn State Cancer Institute was repeatedly under internal review in recent years for extra chemo doses, unexplained delays in changing treatments, and creating a 'toxic' workplace.
Take my job! Spotlight PA is hiring the next Penn State investigative reporter to take my place when I depart later this year.
Come work at one of the best outlets in the country, covering one of the most influential organizations in Pennsylvania.
Message me if you have questions!
Come work at one of the best outlets in the country, covering one of the most influential organizations in Pennsylvania.
Message me if you have questions!
Penn State Investigative Reporter (Guild) - Spotlight PA - Career Page
Apply to Penn State Investigative Reporter (Guild) at Spotlight PA in State College, PA.
spotlightpa.applytojob.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Take my job! Spotlight PA is hiring the next Penn State investigative reporter to take my place when I depart later this year.
Come work at one of the best outlets in the country, covering one of the most influential organizations in Pennsylvania.
Message me if you have questions!
Come work at one of the best outlets in the country, covering one of the most influential organizations in Pennsylvania.
Message me if you have questions!
Reposted by Wyatt Massey
A Pennsylvania court ordered the state's Department of Education to release internal Penn State trustee records to @spotlightpa.org and @news4mass.bsky.social, siding with arguments made by attorneys from @rcfp.org and the Cornell Law School 1A Clinic.
PA court orders state agency to release internal Penn State trustee records
Spotlight PA and one of its reporters were represented by attorneys from RCFP and the Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic.
www.rcfp.org
October 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
A Pennsylvania court ordered the state's Department of Education to release internal Penn State trustee records to @spotlightpa.org and @news4mass.bsky.social, siding with arguments made by attorneys from @rcfp.org and the Cornell Law School 1A Clinic.
"Across the board, the urban-rural divide so central to the state of the country remains a defining division among local news haves and have-nots." - @niemanlab.org
In Medill’s latest State of Local News report, a “festering, 20-year-old problem” looms larger than ever
“Digital news sites don’t come close to replacing the number of newspapers and journalism jobs being lost. And the digital news providers are almost entirely concentrated in metro areas, leaving vast ...
www.niemanlab.org
October 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
"Across the board, the urban-rural divide so central to the state of the country remains a defining division among local news haves and have-nots." - @niemanlab.org
Also! The court said Penn State must unredact this document.
Penn State has argued releasing the information would “create distrust and confusion” or “damage employee morale and retention.”
The court ruled that “such vague jargon and conclusory statements fall woefully short” of proving harm.
Penn State has argued releasing the information would “create distrust and confusion” or “damage employee morale and retention.”
The court ruled that “such vague jargon and conclusory statements fall woefully short” of proving harm.
October 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Also! The court said Penn State must unredact this document.
Penn State has argued releasing the information would “create distrust and confusion” or “damage employee morale and retention.”
The court ruled that “such vague jargon and conclusory statements fall woefully short” of proving harm.
Penn State has argued releasing the information would “create distrust and confusion” or “damage employee morale and retention.”
The court ruled that “such vague jargon and conclusory statements fall woefully short” of proving harm.
BREAKING: A state court ordered Penn State University to release internal Board of Trustees documents — records about a private trustees retreat and a nonpublic board committee meeting.
The university has 30 days to turn over the records.
The university has 30 days to turn over the records.
Penn State ordered to release trustee documents
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court this week ordered Penn State to release internal trustee documents, upholding a decision by the Office of Open Records.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 21, 2025 at 4:49 PM
BREAKING: A state court ordered Penn State University to release internal Board of Trustees documents — records about a private trustees retreat and a nonpublic board committee meeting.
The university has 30 days to turn over the records.
The university has 30 days to turn over the records.
The pending acquisition of WPSU by @whyy.org could mean some notable changes to the workforce of State College's public media outlet.
I spoke with WHYY's CEO about them for this week's Talk of the Town newsletter.
I spoke with WHYY's CEO about them for this week's Talk of the Town newsletter.
October 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The pending acquisition of WPSU by @whyy.org could mean some notable changes to the workforce of State College's public media outlet.
I spoke with WHYY's CEO about them for this week's Talk of the Town newsletter.
I spoke with WHYY's CEO about them for this week's Talk of the Town newsletter.
New: Penn State’s board underwent training on the Sunshine Act as part of the board's legal settlement with Spotlight PA over alleged violations of the transparency law.
But when we asked for the names of participants (something they agreed to release), well ...
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
But when we asked for the names of participants (something they agreed to release), well ...
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Penn State trustees complete transparency training
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records led a training on the Sunshine Act for the university’s governing board as part of a settlement with Spotlight PA.
www.spotlightpa.org
September 19, 2025 at 8:15 PM
New: Penn State’s board underwent training on the Sunshine Act as part of the board's legal settlement with Spotlight PA over alleged violations of the transparency law.
But when we asked for the names of participants (something they agreed to release), well ...
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
But when we asked for the names of participants (something they agreed to release), well ...
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Today's Spotlight PA newsletter update: All the things happening with Penn State's board in the next few weeks.
September 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Today's Spotlight PA newsletter update: All the things happening with Penn State's board in the next few weeks.
Penn State is now outspending Penn, Pitt, and Temple to lobby lawmakers in Harrisburg.
I wish I could tell you what exactly PSU is influencing (like what bills, policies) but I can’t, thanks to PA’s lax disclosure laws and Penn State’s open records exemption.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
I wish I could tell you what exactly PSU is influencing (like what bills, policies) but I can’t, thanks to PA’s lax disclosure laws and Penn State’s open records exemption.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Penn State outspends peers on lobbying with little disclosure
Data show that Penn State outspent Penn, Pitt, and Temple in recent years to lobby in Harrisburg.
www.spotlightpa.org
August 13, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Penn State is now outspending Penn, Pitt, and Temple to lobby lawmakers in Harrisburg.
I wish I could tell you what exactly PSU is influencing (like what bills, policies) but I can’t, thanks to PA’s lax disclosure laws and Penn State’s open records exemption.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
I wish I could tell you what exactly PSU is influencing (like what bills, policies) but I can’t, thanks to PA’s lax disclosure laws and Penn State’s open records exemption.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Reposted by Wyatt Massey
This is Sue’s story. But it could be the story of any of the roughly half a dozen families I spoke to for this investigation.
And it’s the story of what failure over three decades means for real people, a mother and son.
And it’s the story of what failure over three decades means for real people, a mother and son.
The tragic consequences of PA's failed mental health system
One family's story reveals the human cost of hospital closures, funding cuts, and the resulting failures in Pennsylvania's mental health care system.
www.spotlightpa.org
July 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This is Sue’s story. But it could be the story of any of the roughly half a dozen families I spoke to for this investigation.
And it’s the story of what failure over three decades means for real people, a mother and son.
And it’s the story of what failure over three decades means for real people, a mother and son.
After years of closed-door meetings between top Penn State administrators and trustees, the university is now required to publicly reveal the nature of those gatherings and who was involved.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
What Penn State officials tell trustees in private
A recent legal settlement with Spotlight PA mandates that Penn State disclose what trustees are doing during their private conference sessions.
www.spotlightpa.org
July 24, 2025 at 8:59 PM
After years of closed-door meetings between top Penn State administrators and trustees, the university is now required to publicly reveal the nature of those gatherings and who was involved.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Penn State University’s Board of Trustees will complete a training on the state’s open meetings law and disclose more information about its closed-door gatherings as part of a settlement with Spotlight PA.
The agreement ends 18 months of litigation.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
The agreement ends 18 months of litigation.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Penn State, Spotlight PA settle lawsuit in ‘important win for transparency’
Penn State trustees will complete training on open meetings law and disclose more about closed-door meetings after settling a lawsuit with Spotlight PA.
www.spotlightpa.org
June 9, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Penn State University’s Board of Trustees will complete a training on the state’s open meetings law and disclose more information about its closed-door gatherings as part of a settlement with Spotlight PA.
The agreement ends 18 months of litigation.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
The agreement ends 18 months of litigation.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Anne Danahy of WPSU and I spoke with WITF's Asia Tabb about Penn State's recent campus closure decision.
Journalist Roundtable: What’s Behind the Closure of 7 Penn State Campuses? | WITF
Aired; May 30th, 2025.Listen to the podcast to hear the conversation. This week on The Spark’s Journalist Roundtable, we tackle a major shakeup […]
www.witf.org
May 30, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Anne Danahy of WPSU and I spoke with WITF's Asia Tabb about Penn State's recent campus closure decision.
May 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
BREAKING: By a vote of 25 to 8, Penn State's board approved the closure of the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York campuses after May 2027.
Story here.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Story here.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Penn State board approves closing 7 campuses
Trustees voted to close the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York locations.
www.spotlightpa.org
May 22, 2025 at 10:54 PM
BREAKING: By a vote of 25 to 8, Penn State's board approved the closure of the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York campuses after May 2027.
Story here.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Story here.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...