Prison Journalist News Today

Writing from cell at Sullivan Correctional Facility, I’m part of a renaissance of prison journalism. If prison authorities had their way, no one would be writing from the inside at all.

>> "10 of every 11 psychiatric patients housed by the government are incarcerated. heres what the crisis looks like from the inside -- a series of lost lives, a few rare victories as reported by a prison journalist." i mean, this is an important story. this is more about sort of me popping my collar in esquire. >> sure. >> and you see myself through the story too. >> an insider who can describe what he sees to the outside world. has lennon made a positive impact on issues that matter for others ...

"a convicted murderers case for gun control" and "let prisoners take college courses." the former executive editor of the new york times, bill keller, has high praise for this prison journalists work. >> he was the first one that i actually found myself thinking of as a colleague. when hes writing for me, hes not a killer. hes a journalist. >> ive built a career for myself in prison. you know, i think if i was out, id be pretty employable, you know? but im a convicted murderer. >> you try not to...

>> but behind these maximum-security gates is a twist that hollywood hasnt imagined. and yet its playing out in some of the most esteemed literary publications. lennon, whos committed murder himself, actively goes inside the minds of other killers to tell their stories. your approach is "i have a lot in common with these guys that im talking about. you dont, cuomo. you think you know them. you dont know them. i know them, because i am one of them." >> when i talk to guys, and they tell me about ...