Dan Slepian
Award-Winning Journalist at NBC News & Author of The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice
Dan Slepian
Award-Winning Journalist at NBC News & Author of The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice
Biography
Dan Slepian is a distinguished, award-winning investigative journalist at NBC News, a leading authority on the criminal justice system, and a seasoned public speaker. For nearly three decades at NBC’s Dateline, Dan has spearheaded dozens of documentaries and hidden camera investigations, earning a reputation for his pivotal work regarding wrongful convictions and mass incarceration. His podcast, Letters from Sing Sing, was a 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist and debuted at #1 on Apple’s top charts.
Dan’s deep knowledge about the criminal legal system is seen in nearly all of his work, from conducting a TEDx talk at Sing Sing to conceiving and producing groundbreaking televised events, including the first ever town hall from inside a maximum-security prison, where he and anchor Lester Holt brought the voices of the incarcerated to a national audience. Known for his tenacious, relentless pursuit of truth and his empathetic storytelling, Dan is a respected figure in both journalism and the fight against injustice.
In addition to being a Pulitzer Prize finalist, Dan Slepian has received more than a dozen Emmy nominations, four Edward R. Murrow awards, a Sigma Delta Chi, and has been honored by multiple justice organizations across the country.
His new book, The Sing Sing Files, chronicles his 20-year journey to exonerate six wrongfully convicted men.
Speaker Videos
‘Sing Sing Files’ author talks toll on life for the falsely imprisoned
Incarcerated man’s decades-long journey to freedom chronicled in NBC News podcast
How a prisoner's letter led to a 20-year search for the truth
Joe Biden and JJ Velazquez Discuss Criminal Legal Reform
Voices from within | Dan Slepian | TEDxSingSing
Speech Topics
The Sing Sing Files: Exposing the Injustice of Wrongful Convictions
Dive deep into the harrowing stories of six innocent men who were wrongfully convicted and spent decades behind bars. This talk explores the systemic failures of the criminal legal system, the relentless pursuit of truth, and the difficulty in achieving justice.
Building Bridges in Unlikely Places: A Friendship Forged Through Adversity
This talk centers on Dan’s relationship with JJ Velazquez, a man wrongfully convicted, how their bond evolved over two decades, and he led Dan to several other innocent men that Dan did stories about. It’s a story about building trust, understanding, and a lasting friendship in the most unlikely of places—inside the walls of Sing Sing.
Investigative Journalism: The Power of Persistence & Truth
A behind-the-scenes look at how investigative journalism can bring justice to light. Using real-life examples from Dan’s 20-year journey, he shares the challenges, triumphs, and ethical dilemmas faced while uncovering wrongful convictions.
Through the Prism of Wrongful Convictions: Perversity & Pathology of Mass Incarceration
By examining the epidemic of wrongful convictions, Dan delves into the broader issues of mass incarceration. This talk reveals the systemic perversities and deep-rooted pathologies that have led to the United States’ current crisis of incarceration.
The Human Cost of Injustice: A Journalist’s Journey Through the American Prison System
This presentation highlights the profound human impact of wrongful convictions on the incarcerated, their families, and society. Dan discusses the emotional and psychological toll of my investigations and the stories of resilience and hope that emerged.
Justice for All: How We Can Reform the Criminal Justice System
Focused on actionable insights and reforms, this talk addresses the critical need for changes within the criminal justice system. Drawing from decades of experience and specific anecdotes, Dan provides a roadmap for how society can better ensure justice for all.
Testimonials
Books & Media
Books
The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice