About Phil

by Phil Cross
phil profile2

Phil Cross

Phil Cross is an award winning investigative reporter and educator.  His work has been recognized with numerous honors including a regional Emmy award, multiple first place awards from the Oklahoma Associated Press and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.

Phil’s investigations have been recognized by national and international news outlets such as the New York TimesThe Associated PressThe Intercept, and The Huffington Post.

Phil was born and raised in Southwest Missouri, but now calls Oklahoma home.  He joined the Fox 25/KOKH-TV after working at stations in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

Phil graduated summa cum laude from Missouri Southern State University with a degree in communications and minor in psychology. He also studied at the University of Cambridge in England.

In journalism you are taught to ask "Who, what, when, where, why and how." So often when reporting on criminal justice issues, Phil noticed the "why" was missing from the picture.  Not one to accept not knowing, Phil earned his Master of Science Degree in Criminology from Oklahoma City University; he graduated with high honors. 

Phil's decision to study criminology was also prompted by what he saw as the next big issue on Oklahoma's political landscape. He was right. Criminal justice reform became the issue in the Sooner State and Phil's expertise allowed him the chance to provide better researched stories that impacted the state. 

In 2016, Phil wrote, produced and edited a half-hour investigative special on Oklahoma's controversial civil asset forfeiture laws.  This special reported won a Heartland Regional Emmy award in Politics and Government Program.

Phil is now a journalism instructor with the state's largest school system. He co-founded the journalism program for EPIC Charter Schools and in just two years helped lead the student journalists into numerous first place finishes in both scholastic and professional journalism competitions.