Background
Ben Tinsley was born on January 29, 1967.
director journalist musician newspaper reporter writer poet
Ben Tinsley was born on January 29, 1967.
Tinsley graduated from the Career Planning Academy in Fort Worth in 1985. He immediately entered into military service in the Texas Army National Guard and was discharged two and a half years later for medical reasons. He attended Tarrant County Junior College's South Campus in Fort Worth Texas, and earned his bachelor's degree in English/Communicaitons from Tarleton State University in 1991.
Ben Tinsley basically grew up in and around a Fort Worth, Texas newsroom. He has worked over 25 years as an "in the trenches" hard news reporter at newspapers in over four states – including the Arlington Morning News, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Galveston County Daily News, the Las Vegas Business Press, the Jacksonville Daily Progress, The Progress, the Odessa American, the Amarillo Globe-News, the Garland News, the Clovis News-Journal (New Mexico), the Sheridan Press (Wyoming) and the Plano Star Courier. During that time, he also has worked in journalism mediums such as television and radio. Tinsley specializes in crime and criminal justice coverage — but he has worked every beat a newsroom has to offer. Tinsley's work reporting, writing and directing HEART OF CHRISTMAS: The Secret History Of the Littlest Wiseman is his first-ever work on a film. He hopes it is not his last.
Ben Tinsley is an award-winning news reporter – a second-generation journalist – known for covering quirky but hard-breaking news stories such as Hurricane Rita, the Texas A&M Bonfire Collapse and the Republic of Texas Separatist Movement. Since 1991, he has covered news in Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Indiana, and Nevada. In addition to being a neophyte movie director, he is a published poet and comic book writer, a pop vocalist, and bass for the Texas State Men and Boys Choir.
(Ben Tinsley is a veteran print news reporter who is branc...)
Religion – is a smile on a dog.
Being a journalist, a news reporter, is the closest possible thing to being a super hero in the real world.
Quotations: "Stick your finger in your butt and all day long you'll have good luck!"
December 7, 2012 Amy Brocato Pearson, Editor at Jacksonville Daily Progress: " Ben's tenacious efforts in reporting on the bankruptcy of Texas' oldest junior college, Lon Morris, have brought the community to a deeper understanding of the complex issues involved in both the legal proceedings and the division of assets and property. His reporting has brought to light the negligence, avarice and carelessness with which this transaction has been handled. His diligence in pursuing court documents has uncovered possible fraud and definite mishandling of Lon Morris monies and his investigative efforts have positioned the Jacksonville Daily Progress as the definitive news source for this impactful story. Ben is versatile, thoughtful and deliberate in his reporting. His pieces on the alleged murder of beloved community mentor and father-figure, Stacy Hunter, are evocative and show Ben's talent for delving below the surface of the story. Ben is usually the only reporter in our coverage area to learn of and reveal salient facts about a story, such as the fact that Hunter may have counseled his alleged killer before he was shot. Whether Ben is reporting a canine obituary, a murder, a city council meeting or writing a feature story, the depth of his coverage is expansive and his writing is engaging, intelligent, witty, pithy and thorough." Emily Macrander, desk editor, Baytown Sun: " Ben can write quick, clean copy and is very passionate about the work he does. He is great at developing relationships with his sources. Overall, Ben is just a good person. He cares a lot and gets the job done."
Dave Lieber, former Dalals Morning News columnist:
"I worked with Ben for several years, and he is terrific at going after stories. He gets it. He's a reporter's reporter. I admire his work."
Kristine Hughes, former Harte Hanks/Scripps Howard, editor at the Lewisville Leader and Plano Star-Courier: "Ben is a very thorough reporter and talented writer. He has excellent news judgment and remains like a dog to a bone until he gets to the marrow of a story. Also, his writing style is narrative, which makes his stories always a good read."
Ben Tinsley is legally separated from Amy Sims Tinsley. (His third marriage.) He has two sons, Jake, 24 and Camden, 7.