'Tell the truth and don't be afraid'
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Simple but profound words from the president of my college alma mater almost 90 years ago capture the way I practice journalism.
Most of my career has been spent as the Springfield correspondent for the Chicago Sun-Times, where for 19 years I helped unearth some of the shady dealings that sent two Illinois governors to federal prison and derailed the career of a U.S. senator. When I left the Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune media reporter Robert Feder called my departure “a huge loss for the newspaper and its readers at a time when neither can afford to be without his diligent, uncompromising and vital work.” The Washington Post included me in its list of "the best statehouse reporters in America." My stint in Springfield came during a golden era of reporting there. Barack Obama rose from obscurity in the state Senate to become president, and corruption scandals consumed the governorships of George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich. No story proved bigger than the investigative series that I co-authored that helped trigger the political downfall of former U.S. Sen. Roland Burris. After his 2008 arrest, Blagojevich stunned Illinois' political world by appointing Burris to fill the vacancy left by Obama’s election as president. Blagojevich’s brother solicited Burris for campaign contributions before his controversial appointment. Burris didn’t disclose that important detail during an appearance before an Illinois House impeachment panel, triggering a state perjury investigation and U.S. Senate ethics probe that dashed any hope Burris had of retaining the seat. “This series reveals how U.S. Sen. Roland Burris changed his sworn testimony regarding his contacts with Rod Blagojevich,” Investigative Reporters & Editors wrote about the project, which like my other work is highlighted in this website. “The series also revealed the U.S. senator lied and then he lied about lying.” Tell the truth and don’t be afraid. That’s what I’ve done. |
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My resignation: |
In October 2014, I left the Chicago Sun-Times after 19 years. My decision, spelled out on a blog site I created and that you can access by clicking on the image to the right, drew wide coverage. It even resulted in a satirical song being dedicated to me.
To this day, I believe the Sun-Times has a soul, and that's embodied by its decades-long history as Chicago's working-class newspaper. I have nothing but admiration for the hard-working reporters, columnists and editors who continue to work there. My departure was something that I didn't take lightly and that I wish I wouldn't have had to make. But as I said in the blog post, "It's about readers and their trust in us." |
