A new investigative series, “Under the Moonlight,” produced by CBS News in partnership with the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University, examines the practice of police officers working off-duty security jobs. The yearlong investigation reviewed over 100 law enforcement agencies across the United States and focused on concerns about oversight of so-called “moonlighting” among police officers.
The series highlights issues such as accountability, corruption risks, and limited scrutiny when officers are allowed to work off duty with full police powers while reporting to private employers instead of their public supervisors. The project features video components and digital stories led by students from ASU’s Cronkite School’s Howard Center.
“This collaboration is the result of trust and respect that our students and faculty in the Howard Center have worked hard to earn,” said Battinto L. Batts Jr., dean of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “Our partners at CBS News clearly recognize and appreciate not only the level of talent that the Howard Center students have, but their commitment to excellence and professionalism in their work. I am very proud of our students and extremely grateful to our faculty for their dedication to preparing them for opportunities such as this.”
Students were central to the investigation, filing public information requests to law enforcement agencies and developing an interactive tool for the public to examine how agencies regulate off-duty policing. They also contributed storylines about what happens when officers accused of misconduct during off-duty work receive immunity due to minimal oversight.
“At the Howard Center, students are full participants in national investigative reporting, not observers,” said Mark Greenblatt, executive editor of the Howard Center. “When we work with strong partners like CBS News, students work shoulder to shoulder with network journalists on investigations that hold power to account — that level of responsibility and access for students is rare in journalism education and defines our teaching-hospital model.”
Fifteen Howard Center students contributed reporting, data collection, and analysis for “Under the Moonlight.” Video versions are available on CBS News 24/7 streaming, cbsnews.com, and CBS News Texas.
Arizona State University has been recognized for its innovative approaches in recent years. According to U.S. News & World Report, ASU was named number one in innovation for eight consecutive years based on nominations from college leaders who cited advancements made by the university.
The production credits include contributions from both Howard Center students and CBS News staff in areas such as reporting, data analysis, field production, graphics design, photojournalism, video editing, and project leadership.
