Clarity in complex cases.
Ryan N. Smith is an Emmy-winning investigative journalist and Deputy Story Editor at 48 Hours on CBS. He tells stories about crime, justice, and the people caught in between.
For more than a decade at 48 Hours, Ryan has shaped documentary investigations from pitch through final cut. His reporting spans courtrooms, prisons, and crime scenes across the U.S. and internationally, with accuracy, fairness, and human dignity at its core.
Based in New York City, his work reaches audiences across television, streaming, and podcasts. Story tips are welcome.
Insights
Evidence
A fact needs context. The question is what the evidence establishes, what it leaves open, and how reliably it was gathered.
Trial Dynamics
A trial brings competing accounts into focus. The details matter: the testimony, the timeline, and the questions each side must answer.
Media Framing
What a story includes—and what it leaves out—shapes understanding. Context deserves as much care as the headline.
Investigative Ethics
A case file records events. Listening carefully helps reveal the people, relationships, and consequences behind them.
Episode Archive
Explore Ryan’s work across 48 Hours, related series, audio, and special broadcasts. Each entry identifies the year and credited role.
Submit a Tip
A story worth a closer look? Share the case, location, and information you believe matters. Include how you prefer to be contacted.
Contact / Booking
For interviews, media appearances, speaking, and professional inquiries. Include your organization, topic, format, and timing.
Awards & Recognition
Ryan’s reporting and production have contributed to journalism recognized with two of the industry’s leading honors.
Emmy Award Outstanding Breaking News Coverage
Alfred I. duPont–Columbia Award