David Heitz on Muck Rack

David Heitz

Verified
(He/Him)
Denver
As seen in: NewsBreak, Medium, Contently, Vocal
Covers:  Denver local news, including Denver business news, social justice issues, and City Hall. I also write national stories about homelessness, mental health, aging, human trafficking, and addiction.
I expose contradictions, uplift truth, and challenge sanitized narratives. If you want PR gloss, look elsewhere.

David Heitz’s Journalist Portfolio

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Journalism award replaces ones stolen during homelessness

Journalism award replaces ones stolen during homelessness

Vocal — I recently received the "Local Champion" award from NewsBreak, the local news aggregator I write for every day. It means a lot to me. Someone stole my journalism awards when I became homeless in 2019. I lugged the awards around in one of two shopping bags I carried for a few weeks.

Panhandling is a job. Here's what it pays

Panhandling is a job. Here's what it pays

Vocal — People who panhandle take it very seriously. Especially the ones who are good at it. Many consider it a full-time job. I know this because I experienced homelessness in 2019 and knew lots of people who panhandled. I never did it. Not once. I did not have the guts.

Six months in state mental hospital not so bad

Six months in state mental hospital not so bad

Vocal — Editor's note: A previous version of this article appeared on News Break. I never thought I would end up in a mental hospital. I certainly never thought I'd end up homeless and in and out of several mental hospitals. Awful things happen in some mental hospitals. Patients hurting themselves.

Colorado lifts grateful journalist from homelessness | David Heitz | NewsBreak Original

Colorado lifts grateful journalist from homelessness | David Heitz | NewsBreak Original

NewsBreak — As someone who moved to Denver from Illinois three years ago, I understand transplants aren't very welcome here. A popular opinion is that Denver is too crowded as it is. More transplants just mean more trouble, Denverites reason. But I wonder if people in Denver know how much some transplants appreciate being here.

The places I slept while homeless, mentally ill

The places I slept while homeless, mentally ill

Vocal — When you're homeless, you're lucky if you can get any sleep at all. Cops run you off when you fall sleep on park benches. Lie down somewhere covered with a blanket, like in a park, and you're violating the camping ordinance and can get a ticket.

David Heitz | NewsBreak

David Heitz | NewsBreak

NewsBreak — I have been in the news business more than 30 years, spending much of my career at some of the best newspapers in the country. Today, I specialize in Denver local news, health reporting, social justice issues, addiction/recovery/mental health news, and topics surrounding homelessness and human trafficking.

David Heitz - Community Voices

David Heitz - Community Voices

greatcall.com — About the Author David Heitz has been a journalist almost three decades, spending most of that time in the newspaper business in Southern California and the Midwest. In 2013, he began writing for Healthline News after serving as his father's caregiver for many years. That's when David's dad went into a memory care community.

Stories by David Heitz : Contently

Stories by David Heitz : Contently

contently.com — Branded content writer I specialize in medical cannabis, mental health, aging and caregiving. I am a sober person living with PTSD who weaned totally off Pharma within a month of getting the cannabis card.

David Heitz, Author at Vital Updates

David Heitz, Author at Vital Updates

vitalupdates.com — A professional journalist nearly 30 years, David Heitz started his career at the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa before moving to Los Angeles.