Trivia

(1960-1966) Reporter, New York World-Telegram and Sun. (1966-1971) Producer, News Editor, NBC News. (1971-1974) Executive Producer, WNET-TV, New York. (1974-2000) Reporter, New York Times.

Received The New York Press Club Award for Outstanding Television Journalism in 1973.

Received the New York State Associated Press Broadcaster Association Award in 1973.

Received the Townsend Harris Medal for "Notable Achievement" from the City College of New York in 2009.

Received the Page One Award from the Newspaper Guild of New York in 1975.

Received the New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association Award in 1985.

Graduated from Seward Park High School in New York City.

Received the University of Missouri School of Journalism Award for Magazine Writing in 1970.

Co-wrote with Frank Ragano "Mob Lawyer" in 1994.

Has a daughter Marian.

Received the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists in 1971 and again in 1972.

Received The New York Press Club Best Feature Story Award in 1984.

Graduated from City College of New York where he received a B.A. degree in English literature in 1956.

His first jobs as a reporter with the Bridgeport Sunday Herald newspaper in Bridgeport, Connecticut and The Star-Ledger newspaper in Newark, New Jersey.

His book, the New York Times Bestseller, "Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires" was published in 2005.

Wrote "Justice in the Back Room" which was published in 1967. The book was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America for Best Fact Crime Book in 1968. Universal Studios bought the television rights, transforming Raab into a fictional detective named Theo Kojak, portrayed by Telly Savalas in the series Kojak.

Received The Heywood Broun Memorial Award from the American Newspaper Guild in 1974.

As an investigative reporter at the New York World-Telegram, he was instrumental in finding evidence that exonerated George Whitmore Jr. of false charges for having slain Janice Wylie and Emily Hoffert in the notorious Career Girl murders in 1963. He also uncovered evidence that led to the dismissal of a third murder accusation against Whitmore.

At City College he was campus correspondent for The Times and an editor of Observation Post, a student newspaper.

In August 2024, Selwyn appeared on the History Channel limited series American Godfather: The Five Families.

Has written extensively about the American Mafia and criminal justice issues.