Jeremy Finley is the chief investigative reporter for the Channel 4 I-Team. He specializes in investigations into corruption, criminal activity and waste of taxpayer money. He is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors.
If it was any indication of his future path, when Jeremy was a kid, he refused to take his parents' word that Santa Claus was real and demanded proof. Therefore, on Christmas morning, he left a note for Santa, demanding Santa's signature if he indeed did exist.
Santa complied. Not satisfied, the next year Jeremy went in search of Santa's stash, found it in his parent's closet, was busted, and all his gifts went to his brother Jason. But Jeremy at last had his proof.
Since then, Jeremy has been aggravating politicians, corporate bosses and scam artists with his affinity for finding the truth.
The Nashville Scene wrote that Jeremy is "no stranger to blockbuster expose's." With the aid of the I-Team's producers and photographers, he's uncovered everything from a secret smoking room in Legislative Plaza for lawmakers, who themselves voted to ban smoking in state buildings, to a highly paid elected official relaxing at his house in his bathrobe while claiming to be at a meeting -- a story the Nashville Scene called "a devastatingly effective expose ... a piece that has already become part of Nashville's political folklore."
Jeremy's investigations have also prompted a district attorney investigation and the subsequent resignation of an elected official found skipping out on work and the payout of more than $1 million to victims of a nationwide company targeting the uninsured and sick.
Jeremy also received one of the highest honors in investigative journalism in 2010: the IRE certificate for breaking new investigations. He received the honor for his stories exposing mistakes made by government agencies during the flood that swamped downtown Nashville. He was also named an IRE finalist in 2010 for the investigation that resulted in the $1 million payout. In 2011, he was again named a finalist for the IRE certificate for his investigation into the questionable work habits of Nashville's criminal court clerk.
He's also received a 2012 regional Edward R. Murrow award for investigating reporting, five MidSouth Emmys and multiple first place honors from the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Jeremy was also named in the Nashville's Post's 2012 "In Charge" issue, for civic leaders who have "positively exerted their influence on Nashville and its surrounding counties." The magazine called Jeremy a watchdog and cited his work for exposing both corrupt politicians and mistakes made by government agencies during the Nashville flood.
Jeremy is reminded daily what's important in life, thanks to the women who run his life, including his wife and two daughters. When they allow him to do so, he's an sluggish long-distance runner and obsessive reader.
While he's most proud of his investigations, he admits his favorite assignment was covering the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece for WSMV and all stations owned by the Meredith corporation.
And remember Jason, that brother who got Jeremy's presents that Christmas? He's now Jeremy's photographer partner on the Channel 4 I-Team. Recently, when they were getting undercover video from a van, Jason found the perfect place to park, and Jeremy stretched, accidentally laying on the horn and alerting everyone to their presence. They somehow still got the video they needed to expose inmates free to wander around a town running errands.
Jeremy is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and has a Master's degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois at Springfield.
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