Mike West

Professor of the Practice

Mike West is an award-winning broadcast journalist and documentary producer. He brings to Loyola a wide range of media experience, including music criticism, on-air TV reporting, directing documentaries, and producing well-known and culturally impactful docuseries.

West began his career as a TV reporter at the ABC station in Grand Island, Nebraska and the NBC station in Madison, Wisconsin. His print journalism has been published in the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Chicago Sun-Times, and The Progressive magazine, among others. From daily journalism, West took the opportunity to master long-form storytelling, working alongside Chicago broadcast icon Bill Kurtis. At Kurtis Productions, West produced the pioneering true crime documentary series Cold Case Files on A&E, earning two national Emmy nominations for Outstanding Nonfiction Series.

West was the creator and executive producer of American Greed on CNBC, the first documentary series to tackle stories of white-collar crime and financial fraud, such as the Theranos, WeWork, and Bernie Madoff scandals. Fun fact: he collaborated directly with legendary showrunner Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) on a mockumentary version of American Greed profiling Jimmy McGill aka Saul Goodman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX_Hwr_ZCic

Beyond filmography, West’s proudest professional accomplishments revolve around relationships: attracting top-notch talent, championing team members, and developing their skills. At Loyola, he looks forward to advancing the mission of the Journalism department, launching the careers of the next generation of reporters, and helping them navigate an ever-changing media environment.

Education

Master of Science in Journalism (MSJ), Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University

Bachelor of Arts, American Studies, Northwestern University

Courses Taught

Reporting Basics; Broadcast Newswriting; Newscasting and Producing

Awards

Emmy Award nominee, National Association of Television Arts and Sciences, Outstanding Nonfiction Series, Cold Case Files

Critics Choice Award nominee, Best Business Show, American Greed

Peter Lisagor Award, Chicago Headline Club, American Greed

Winner, Best Short, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Conviction: The True Story of Clarence Elkins

Audience Choice Award, Best Short, Cleveland International Film Festival, Conviction: The True Story of Clarence Elkins