Ambler Native Receives Oscar Nomination For 'Spotlight'

By Kristen Johanson

AMBLER, Pa., (CBS) -- The movie 'Spotlight' focuses on four Boston Globe journalists who spent months investigating the scope of the Catholic clergy sex abuse cover-up.  The film is up for 6 nominations, including Best-Screenplay.  Josh Singer is an Ambler native, and co-wrote the film.

"Pretty idealic experience growing up there," said the Upper Dublin High School Graduate, who eventually went to Harvard Law School.  He says that's where his dream began.

"I was interested in continue talking about the ideas we were talking about in law school, and right at the end of graduate school, the West Wing came on the air, and I was sort of really taken by it, because there is Aaron Sorkin, having a dialogue with the American public about the issues," he said.

"It's a great thing, it's a really incredibly recognized," he said.  "It's so important, this kind of long form investigative work."

He says he hopes the movie encourages good journalism.

"(I hope it) helps people realize that journalists are often the good guys, not the bad guys, and that we want them to be asking the hard questions when journalists asks hard questions, then the powerful are held accountable," Singer said.

And he wants to continue writing screenplays about issues that matter.

"What we are going to do is get more people talk about these issues, so that's the most exciting thing."