Cover story: Good news: Star Tribune’s ‘Inspired’ paves way in print

Inside this issue: Trump is winning his war on truth Missouri Legislature is ‘Exhibit A’ for by William H. Freivogel toxic masculinity by Don Corrigan New statehouse bureau aims to fill gap Pulitzer filmmakers brought publisher to in coverage for Illinois newspapers life as ‘wake up call’ for today’s democracy by Jackie Spinner by Oren Rudavsky and Robert Seidman

2019 • Volume 48 Number 353 •1 $8 CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHED BY: School of Journalism College of Mass Communication and Media Arts Deborah Tudor: interim dean PUBLISHER WILLIAM H. FREIVOGEL Scott McClurg: interim director William H. Freivogel is a former editorial page deputy editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and contributes to St. Louis Public Radio. He is a BOARD OF ADVISERS: member of the Missouri Bar. BOB CHIARITO Jim Kirchherr, Don Corrigan, Bob Chiarito is a freelance journalist based in Lisa Bedian, Tammy Merrett, Rita Csapo-Sweet, Steve Perron, Chicago who has reported on the R. Kelly story for Eileen Duggan, Michael D. EDITOR JACKIE SPINNER Reuters and the New York Times. This story first Sorkin, David P. Garino, Rick Jackie Spinner is an Associate Professor at Columbia appeared in GJR’s weekly newsletter. College in Chicago; freelance independent journalist Stoff, Ted Gest, Fred Sweet, specializing on the Middle East; former Baghdad William Greenblatt, Lynn DON CORRIGAN Bureau Chief Washington Post. Venhaus, Daniel Hellinger, Robert Don Corrigan is the editor-in-chief and co-publisher A. Cohn, Michael E. Kahn, John of the Webster-Kirkwood Times, South County P. Dubinsky, Gerald Early, Paul MANAGING EDITOR LU FAN Times and West End Word newspapers in St. Schoomer, Moisy Shopper, Ray Lu Fan is a doctoral student in Mass Communication Louis. He also is a professor of journalism in the Hartmann, Ken Solomon, Avis and Media Arts at SIUC. Her research is focused School of Communications at Webster University Meyer, Tom Engelhardt on health communication, social media and in St. Louis, where he is back serving as a print journalism. adviser to the university newspaper, The Journal, The Gateway Journalism Review and where he teaches courses in media law and GJR (USPS 738-450 ISSN: 0036- mass communication. 2972) is published quarterly, DESIGN CHIEF ABBEY LA TOUR by Southern Illinois University Abbey La Tour is a copy editor and paginator at The Carbondale, School of Journalism, IAN KARBAL News-Enterprise. La Tour is a graduate of SIUC where College of Mass Communication Ian Karbal is a Chicago-based freelance journalist she studied journalism and communication design. and Media Arts, a non-profit He can be found on Twitter at @iankarbal. She has previously worked at The Pulitzer Center on entity. The office of publication is Crisis Reporting, American Institutes for Research, SIUC School of Journalism, 1100 Lincoln Drive, Mail Code 6601, The Peoria Journal Star, The Daily Egyptian and Small ABEL RODRIGUEZ Carbondale, IL 62901 Newspaper Group. Abel Rodriguez is a recent graduate of Dominican University in suburban Chicago. His Twitter is @abehist_. TO SUBSCRIBE: ARTIST STEVE EDWARDS 618-536-3361 Steve Edwards is a professional artist at Steve gatewayjr.org/about Edwards Studio. OREN RUDAVSKY Sign up for our weekly Oren Rudavsky is the director of such films newsletter at gatewayjr.org. as Hiding and Seeking, Colliding Dreams, The GJR FOUNDER CHARLES KLOTZER Treatment and A Life Apart: Hasidism in America. Charles Klotzer is the founder of the St. Louis SUBSCRIPTION Journalism Review. RATES: ROBERT SEIDMAN $20 — one year NANCY DAY Robert Seidman is the writer or co-writer of $35 — two years Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life, Margaret Mead, A Life Nancy Day is an independent journalist. A graduate $45 — three years Apart and the recent novel Moments Observed. of the University of Illinois, Urbana, with an M.A Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People has just been from Stanford, Day was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard Foreign subscriptions higher nominated for an Emmy Award. and a Fulbright scholar in Russia. After working at depending upon country. AP and metro newspapers, she was an Associate Professor of Journalism at Boston University and RICHARD H. WEISS POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: served for 11 years as chair of the Journalism Richard H. Weiss retired from the Post-Dispatch Gateway Journalism Review Department at Columbia College Chicago. in 2005; he continues his work on social justice Amber Walker — School of issues as a journalist under the banner of Journalism AMELIA BLAKELY WeissWrite LLC and Before Ferguson Beyond 1100 Lincoln Drive, Mail Code Amelia Blakely is a junior at Southern Illinois Ferguson Inc. More information at weisswrite.com 6601 University Carbondale studying journalism and and beforefergusonbeyondferguson.com. Carbondale, IL 62901. philosophy. She was a campus editor and news writer for the Daily Egyptian and is now a student Periodical postage paid at news producer at WSIU Public Radio. Carbondale, IL, and additional mailing offices. Please enclose stamped, self-addressed envelope with manuscript.

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 Year three of Trump's assault on truth: Trump is winning his war on truth 22 Former Post-Dispatch editor: 6 New logo represents new Joseph Pulitzer set the template vision for our 50-year-old mission for American newspapers 7 Good news: Star Tribune’s 24 When should justice be ‘Inspired’ paves way in print outside public view? 10 New statehouse bureau aims 26 Readers want good visuals, to fill gap in coverage for Illinois but newsrooms keep laying off newspapers photojournalists who can deliver them 12 Missouri Legislature is ‘Exhibit A’ for toxic masculinity 27 Campaign to save student newsrooms shifts gears from 15 Southern Illinois paper finances to censorship breaks story in print about state cancelling Confederate Railroad 28 Rodney Davis volunteer band. It still goes viral. poses as student journalist in opponent’s press conference 16 Outdoors Co-op has two efforts to support environmental 30 Assange indictment bigger journalism threat than the secrets he leaked 18 Exit of Illinois’ longest- 32 Mental hazards of serving investigative reporting reporting not just danger for war duo signals end of an era Belleville correspondents News-Democrat 35 Gateway Journalism Review 20 Pulitzer filmmakers brought awards Freedom Fighter honors publisher to life as ‘wake up call’ for today’s democracy

3 Year three of Trump's assault on truth This is a series of opinions on President Donald Trump and his assault on the truth written by Gateway Journalism Review's publisher William H. Freivogel. You can read the series on our website.

Trump is winning his war on truth by William H. Freivogel

In the third year of President Donald J. question — that it was needed to enforce “‘the president loves you’ and told him if he Trump’s war on the truth, Trump is winning. the Voting Rights Act. After losing, Trump stayed on message the president would When the truth loses, so does democracy said he would go ahead with the question have his back.” and the First Amendment. anyway and his attorney general replaced Should the president get away with Consider the past several weeks: the Justice Department professionals ordering former White House Counsel Don • During seven hours of congressional handling the case. Meanwhile Trump’s McGahn to have Mueller fired as special hearings in July, a by-the-book special xenophobic attacks on immigrants — counsel? And should he get away with counsel verified episodes showing the heart of Trump’s political case since calling the New York Times disclosure of the “substantial” evidence of obstruction of he rode down the escalator at Trump firing order “fake news, folks,” while at the justice by Trump and added the president Tower - continue unabated with families same time ordering McGahn to create a fake “generally” was untruthful in sworn written separated at the border and immigrant record to refute the truthful story? answers. Yet all of Washington concluded roundups around the country. Should the president get by calling the the day-long testimony was a big win for Yet, by and large, the American people Russia investigation a “hoax” when Special the Obstructor-In-Chief. Facts be damned. have sat by complacently, as if witnessing Counsel Robert S. Mueller III testified Who cares if the president of the United just another summer thunderstorm. Russian interference is a serious, on-going States consorted with the Russians and Journalists tie themselves in knots over threat? Should the president get a pass sought to cover it up? whether to use the words lying or racism or when he is AWOL in efforts to avert future • Early in July the president ranted that four sexism or obstruction. And the president’s meddling in elections by foreign powers? progressive Democratic representatives standing among the American voter goes Trump’s aides are reportedly too afraid to should “go back” to their countries, even up, not down. In December 2017 Trump’s bring up the subject, a real life case of the though three of the four were born in the disapproval rating was 20 points higher than his Emperor has no clothes. Instead they stand United States and the fourth is a U.S. approval rating. Now the differential is half that. by as he playfully admonishes Putin about citizen. Unsurprisingly, all four are women Are we witnessing the normalization of not interfering in 2020. and people of color, the president’s deviancy? Should the president be able to get away favorite Twitter targets. At a political rally, Journalists and voters might spend less with lying about what Mueller’s report found? Trump supporters chanted “Send her time trying to put labels on this president’s The president says Russian involvement back,” in an eerie echo of the past. actions and instead look at the actions was a hoax; Mueller said continuing Russian • In June the president denied the latest themselves and ask whether this is the kind interference is one of the greatest national of two dozen allegations of sexual of behavior they are willing to accept in the security challenges he has seen in his long misconduct. He said advice columnist man who is America’s face to the world. career. Trump said Mueller “exonerated” him E. Jean Carroll was “totally lying” when Should a president accept the help of of obstruction; Mueller said he didn’t. Trump she said Trump assaulted her in a America’s leading foreign adversary, with his said the inquiry was a partisan “Witchhunt;” department store dressing room in the son eager for Russian dirt on Hillary Clinton, Mueller said it wasn’t. 1990s. “She’s not my type,” he added with the campaign manager exchanging Should the president get away with lying coyly. Any other CEO credibly accused polling data with Russian operatives and about lying? Right after the Mueller testimony of sexually assaulting multiple women with the Trump himself loudly calling on the the president claimed the special counsel — or who bragged about grabbing their Russians to hack Clinton’s email? hadn’t said things he clearly had said in private parts - would be out of a job; but Should a president pursue a lucrative his testimony. Mueller said Trump hadn’t this CEO gets to sit in the White House hotel deal with Vladimir Putin’s aides answered many questions and “generally” writing hush money checks to porn during the run-up to the election, while was untruthful. (Don’t miss Mueller’s ‘Mona stars he kept hidden from voters. denying it to the American people? And Lisa smile” after he answers the question.) • At the end of the Supreme Court term, when his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, When PBS’s Yamiche Alcindor asked Trump threatened to ignore the Supreme is called before Congress and asked about Trump about Mueller’s comment, Trump Court’s decision blocking his attempt to the discrepancy, should the White House pointed his finger at her and angrily said, “He put a citizenship question on the census get away with encouraging Cohen to lie? didn’t say that at all … .You are untruthful.” form. Chief Justice John Roberts said Trump’s lawyer Jay Sekulow told Cohen When another reporter pointed out Mueller the court was not required to show before his false testimony to Congress that had said a president can be indicted after the “naivete” that would be required to he “was protected, which he would not be if leaving office, Trump called two reporters accept Trump’s rationale for adding the he ‘went rogue.’” Sekulow reminded Cohen, “fake news.” 4 Photo by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia

Donald Trump speaking to supporters at an immigration policy speech at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Do established norms and American Should the president get by with telling values no longer matter? Can a president get away with publicly hectoring the people four congresswomen to ‘go back’ to their he doesn’t like even if they were war heroes, “ basketball stars or the most outstanding home countries, when most Americans women’s soccer player in the world? Can a president turn his back on values that recognize that language is straight from America has supported for decades - human rights, international alliances and democratic the racial playbook?” aspirations and instead cozy up to dictators, strongmen and crowned princes whose Should the president get by with telling members of Congress as good politics, hatchet men murder and dismember a four congresswomen to “go back” to their as it both warms the cockles of the white Washington Post journalist? And then send home countries, when most Americans supremacists who love him and causes so more American weapons to the crowned recognize that language is straight from many of the thoughtful people who don’t to prince to kill Yemeni civilians. the racial playbook? Are we to ignore that scream.” The Sun added, “we would tell the Will the American people surrender to a most of the victims of the president’s tweets most dishonest man to ever occupy the Oval politics of hate directed against immigrants, are blacks and women and that this is the Office, the mocker of war heroes, the gleeful women, people of color, intellectuals and president who thought there were some grabber of women’s private parts, the serial good white supremacists in Charlottesville? bankrupter of businesses, the useful idiot people who believe in the science? And do we fall for Trump’s schoolyard bully of Vladimir Putin and the guy who insisted There is plenty of evidence of high crimes tactic blaming the victim of his racist taunts there are ‘good people’ among murderous and misdemeanors to impeach Trump. for being racist. He called the “Squad” “very neo-Nazis that he’s still not fooling most But neither impeachment nor the legal racist” and “not very smart” and 10 days later Americans into believing he’s even slightly system will rescue America from Trump. The accused Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. of competent in his current post. Or that he American voter will have to do that at the “playing the race card” in defending himself possesses a scintilla of integrity.” ballot box. against a two-day Trump Twitter assault Do facts and truth no longer matter to the In this enterprise, the press has a high against “rat-infested” Baltimore. American people? As Bush II speechwriter duty to help Americans consumed with their The Baltimore Sun called out Trump’s Michael Gerson put it, “It is the blinding day-to-day lives to sort out truth from daily strategy writing in an extraordinary editorial, snowstorm of his lies, which undermine the deceits that flow from the Twitter feed of the “Mr. Trump sees attacking African American very idea of political truth.” most powerful man on the planet. 5 New logo represents new vision for our 50-year-old mission by Jackie Spinner

Our readers may have noticed Gateway Texas and Kansas. Of the big cities where we Journalism Review has a new logo: our track readers, Chicago is No. 1. We primarily name with a section of the famed Gateway draw our readers from social media. That’s Arch in St. Louis. Over the years, we’ve had one of the reasons we recently hired an intern numerous iterations of this and inconsistent from Eastern Illinois University to manage display online, across social media and in our social media for the summer. (Analicia our quarterly print magazine. The new logo C. Haynes was the editor of the Daily Eastern represents the overhaul we’ve undertaken in this past year.) We are well aware of the the past year to focus our editorial content importance not only for her but also for us as and deliver media news to our readers they we try to grow our audience, which includes can’t find anywhere else. over 2,000 email subscribers to our weekly The logo was designed by Abbey La newsletter. Tour, a recent graduate of Southern Illinois That weekly newsletter offers original University–Carbondale, where our news content and aggregates media news focused operations are headquartered. La Tour has on the Midwest, President Trump’s war on been GJR’s design chief for two years and the media, photojournalism, local journalism also works as a copyeditor and paginator and issues of particular interest to journalists at The News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown, of color. We embrace Maynard’s Fault Lines Kentucky. She has previously worked for The as the dangerous rhetoric from the president as a matter of principle and practice to make Peoria Journal Star, Small Newspaper Group, of the United States filters down to smaller certain our stories and our sources represent American Institutes for Research and The communities. We believe it’s our duty and a diversity of age, gender, ethnicity, geography Daily Egyptian. responsibility as the journalism review based and socio-economic class. The logo’s typeface is “Roboto Slab,” which in the Midwest to cover newsmakers in self- This past academic year we had an La Tour describes as a versatile typeface that defined “Trump Country,” to hold journalists internship program for the first time, and holds up online as well is in print. accountable and to highlight the incredible currently have students from Dominican “We wanted to stay consistent with our efforts at watchdog reporting that are taking University, Columbia College Chicago, history and namesake so we made sure to place in the smallest media markets in the Eastern Illinois University, DePaul University hold onto the incorporation of the St. Louis country. While many look to the well-funded and California State University at Long Beach Arch in our updates logo,” she said. “We New York Times and Washington Post to working for us — along with undergraduate plan to carry these changes throughout our save us, we look to the Pinckneyville Press and graduate students at SIUC. We had website and magazine.” in Southern Illinois, to the City Bureau in students from Columbia College Chicago Gateway Journalism Review has been Chicago and community papers such as the and the University of Kansas in the past. continuously publishing since 1970. Through St. Louis American and Webster-Kirkwood Our internship allows student journalists a digital news operation and quarterly Times in St. Louis. to explore the industry where they are print magazine. GJR critically analyzes the Some of the stories we’ve written in headed and make contacts along the way. mass media in the Midwest stretching from the past several months have covered We don’t recruit them simply to be content Ohio to Oklahoma and from North Dakota the elimination of the copy desk at the St. creators that enable our existence. We to Arkansas — and beyond. Our goal is to Louis Post-Dispatch, how Chicago media work closely with them to help them grow regularly review journalism, new media, outlets ignored the R. Kelly story for decades as journalists, teaching them interviewing photojournalism, documentary, advertising and the recent launch of the Illinois Press and story organizational skills, how to and public relations to help ensure our Foundation’s new Springfield news bureau. create visual elements to accompany efforts as communicators are transparent We’ve also written about the Post-Dispatch their articles and what it means to hold and ethical. and Chicago Tribune’s failure to comply themselves accountable. We hope that at Our recently redesigned website and with new EU privacy regulations, how media the end of their internships, they have an quarterly print magazine are the phoenix of outlets contribute to segregation in Chicago understanding of our industry that exceeds St. Louis Journalism Review, a publication and acclaimed designer Mario Garcio’s any that an introductory journalism course that was launched 50 years ago by Charles vision for mobile journalism. could provide. We also hope they take our Klotzer, who escaped the Holocaust through In recent years we’ve also published commitment to Fault Lines and make it their China to start a typesetting business in special editions on the impeachment of own as they go forward into the profession. St. Louis. St. Louis Journalism Review Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, the Rauner- All of that is hard to sum up in a logo, but continues to exist as our non-profit controlled media in Illinois, the remarkable we tried. Unlike the Gateway Arch, we are foundational arm, and GJR continues to civil rights and social media moment of the not the tallest or the biggest “man-made” report on the St. Louis media. But we also Ferguson, Missouri, protests and the 225th structure. We are well aware Columbia have expanded in the past year to focus anniversary of the Bill of Rights. Journalism Review, the only other journalism on Chicago and other Midwestern media A recent analysis of our website (March review in the country, has more resources markets. We believe community journalism 1 through April 30) shows the majority of our and a much larger staff. But like the Arch, is as important as ever and particularly so readers are in Illinois, followed by Missouri, which opened to the public just two years before our publication’s launch, we know our importance is we exist, serving the middle of the country and the thousands of journalists ... We know our importance is we exist.” who start here, pass through here and remain here to tell our stories outside of the elite coastal media centers. “6 Photo by Nancy Day

Minneapolis Star Tribune Designer Madalyne Bird, left, and editor Gail Rosenblum, hold up recent editions of the “Inspired” section.

COVER STORY Good news: Star Tribune’s ‘Inspired’ paves way in print by Nancy Day Good news is having a comeback. cajoled into writing a piece for Inspired have Not the old pet in a tree rescue, but been astounded at the positive feedback. deeply reported, nuanced stories people Since she has no freelance budget, she immediately want to tell to friends and family. must first convince editors to provide time The Minneapolis Star Tribune is leading for reporters to work on inspirational stories the revival with a weekly, four-page section and then, in some cases, convince a “hard- each Saturday called “Inspired.” On Aug. 4, boiled” journalist the work is worth doing, 2018, Gail Rosenblum became the section’s “not just fluff.” These stories also allow news editor, her full-time job. She and designer writers to think more closely about craft, Madalyne Bird are the team responsible for putting out the section. not bound by the “inverted pyramid” who- The response from readers has been what-when-where-why lead, although those unprecedented, Rosenblum said in a recent elements are included. interview at the newspaper. Beat reporters she Continued on next page 7 Readers keep telling us how much they love this content. Some say it’s among the reasons they renew their digital “and/or print subscriptions.” — Rene Sanchez

Many of the stories have a social not silly or slight items — and we wanted to reporting positive human interactions justice angle, most also have a solutions- do it as an addition to our coverage, not in “abound” and are crucial — not only for the based focus, and all provide unique place of any part of our news report.” psyche but for a more comprehensive look information. A recent one is a version Public response was immediate and at our world. of the New York Times’ popular Sunday enthusiastic. Reaction from some in the The Optimist in Washington “Vows” feature: newsroom was less so. But once they try it, Beard launched The Optimist at the At home on the high seas even hard news junkies are now fans and Washington Post in 2014, provided free as Minnesota filmmaker finds his calling – she gets ideas from all beats. The theater an “extra” for some 200,000 existing digital and future spouse – on African Mercy ship critic, for example, wrote about a well-known subscribers. These readers became brand The happy young couple, she an on-board local actor who frequently plays Scrooge in ambassadors, re-tweeting and sharing reporter on the hospital ship with dual Swiss “A Christmas Carol.” This story highlighted stories from the newsletter. Its impetus and British citizenship and he a videographer, his volunteer passion for socializing abused came when he realized “we had a lot of both wanting more meaning to their lives, and abandoned dogs so they can be villains, not many heroes” in the news planning to wed this summer in Cottage adopted. report. He champions the investigative Grove, MN. efforts of colleagues, but also tells them The large lead photo of that edition is of Upside in Philadelphia the feel-good pieces with an emotional tug four young boys running toward the camera On the Ides of March last spring, the give readers a break, so “your audience on an overgrown path. The caption: “After Philadelphia Inquirer announced the debut of has more of an appetite for government surgery to repair severely deformed legs, the Upside, accompanied by a group photo accountability stories.” Pierre ran gleefully along a trail in Cameroon of the journalists involved plus adorable He describes the early days of The with his brother and cousins.” children and dogs in their lives. The impetus Optimist as “more straight aspirational” than On June 21, a photo of a smiling woman came from a reader worried about growing a similar effort for Mother Jones magazine with close-cropped gray hair and a tall young anxiety among teens because of the called Recharge that began as a Twitter man with his hair in braids smiling into her mayhem in the world. She asked, couldn’t hashtag and is now a weekly column he eyes led the page. This piece was about you just publish good news one day? curates. A recent piece on legendary Pink Susan Gethin, 59, who met Norman Irving, Floyd guitarist David Gilmore’s auction of 24, when she volunteered in a program for his lifetime collection of instruments and homeless youth. She was shocked when she his subsequent donation of $21.5 million to later learned this “sweetie” had pled guilty to We have to climate change remediation was Recharge’s aggravated robbery and received a six-year most popular ever – by a factor of eight, prison sentence. Her prison visits help him report those as measured by retweets and shares. A stay positive. He’s now in Red Wing, a facility crucial element was gaining permission to that allows inmates to go outside to work. “stories. But these use a family photo that shows Gilmore and Gethin, according to James Walsh‘s story, his baby granddaughter gazing into one “is not blind to the challenges he faces,” stories are as true.” another’s eyes. “Some things are just magic,” but she’s found a job in construction for Beard said. him when he’s free (November 2020) and — Gail Rosenblum Mother Jones is named for the labor continues to hold him accountable as well as crusader who called out America’s income provide encouragement and hugs. inequality a century ago and is best known Rene Sanchez, editor of the Star Tribune Executive Editor Stan Wischnowski wrote: for its investigations and progressive point since October 2013, originated the Inspired “I have fantastic news for that reader and of view. It received the prestigious Magazine idea and wanted to expand it to a special anyone else exhausted by the daily drumbeat of the Year award in 2017. section with a designated editor. Rosenblum, of tough news that dominates our headlines Rosenblum was surprised when she who spent most of her career as a feature and social media feeds.” learned Mother Jones is on the same writer and columnist, told him it was her To skeptics schooled in traditional values wave-length. Reflecting as her one-year dream job. She explained her new job to of “what makes news,” Rosenblum said, of anniversary as Inspired editor in the Twin readers in her final column. course impact, prominence and other pillars Cities approaches, Rosenblum said, “I’ve After more than a decade of school still count. “We have to report those stories. been a journalist since college … I’ve never shootings, slaughters in houses of worship But these stories are as true.” heard this kind of response. There is such a and at entertainment venues, uncivil “We’re writing about problem-solvers, hunger out there … ” discourse at the highest levels and hate deeply complex, vital issues and showing “We are getting more readers and their speech in person and on social media, you people who are solving or mitigating” loyalty to this section is incredible,” which people are “so grateful for what we’re doing,” these issues, making a difference, she said. she knows through calls, chance encounters, Rosenblum told GJR. David Beard, a veteran of AP and metro hand-written and e-mail notes. “I feel a real “Readers were telling us one way or the newspapers who is now a consultant obligation to keep doing this.” other that they find the news, although they on audience engagement, among other Occasionally, a story in the section is know it’s important, exhausting and often endeavors, acknowledges the longstanding pure fun. But most of it concerns “heavy depressing,” said Sanchez. “We wanted to news practice “If it doesn’t bleed, it doesn’t issues.” The difference is not only reporting counter that with substantive good news — lead,” but insists examples of stories terrible situations, but also providing “models 8 of success for lessening those issues’ impact.” “When we created Inspired, we talked a “If you are not a journalist,” she said, “you The story about the once-homeless teen lot about the mission,” he said. “The focus, don’t understand how our profession works, now incarcerated, for example, has themes foremost, was that it needed to be credible that it’s the most unusual, the most unlikely, “of second chances, juvenile justice, big and substantive, not pandering, and that it the most horrific that will end up on the front issues of our time,” she noted. needs a strong sense of place, something page. If you don’t know better, you’ll think Although reporters often tried to provide Minnesota readers can embrace.” that’s what’s happening everywhere. And it’s solutions, deadlines and workloads often The other key point: “It’s important to exacerbated by the 24-hour news cycle. So precluded it. In this century, when economic focus on people. So many of them, in quiet you’ll think the world is going to hell.” concerns coupled with cultural and ways, are doing meaningful, positive things technological changes demanded attention, in their community.” Moral and profitable early advocates of this approach such as Inspired was print-only at its inception. She and Beard both noted community the non-profit Solutions Journalism Network The digital newsletter was added last spring. newspapers used to provide coverage that and Yes magazine showed how it could be This fall, the Inspired speaker series became known as hyper-local: Little League, done. The difference now is that mainstream begins. Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, who media are finding these efforts, a balance, persevered to win Olympic gold and 82 honor rolls, charity events, births, deaths, some describe it, builds readership and trust. World Cup victories despite serious injuries, marriages — “90 percent of how people really “The (financial) commitment is definitely will be the first speaker. She was born in St. live,” she said. That’s largely gone — the worth it so far,” said Sanchez. “Readers keep Paul and went to high school and college hometown newspaper, and, with it, much of telling us how much they love this content. at the University of Missouri. Also booked the good news. Some say it’s among the reasons they renew is celebrated chef José Andrés, the chef Newspapers around the country are their digital and/or print subscriptions.” who went to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico fighting for economic survival. An emphasis on and figured out how to serve more than 3.6 positive pieces is not a panacea, but Sanchez is Substantive, not pandering million meals. optimistic that this initiative attracts readers and Rosenbaum said advertisers specifically These will be ticketed affairs where revenue. The bottom line is not Rosenblum’s ask to be in the section. Rosenblum conducts a Q&A with the guest. direct responsibility, but she said, “in an era of The open rate of the newer digital In addition to editing the section, scarce resources, it makes financial sense. It newsletter is high, Sanchez reported. Rosenblum speaks often to community groups. definitely makes moral sense.” 9 Photo by Lee Milner of Illinois Times

The Capitol News Illinois team talks about coverage plans for the day in their office in the basement of the Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Pictured, from left, are Grant Morgan, Rebecca Anzel, Peter Hancock, Jeff Rogers and Jerry Nowicki. Rogers is the bureau chief; Anzel, Hancock and Nowicki are full-time reporters; and Morgan is a full-time reporting intern from the Public Affairs Reporting program at University of Illinois Springfield.

New statehouse bureau aims to fill gap in coverage for Illinois newspapers by Jackie Spinner

Like many statehouse press corps, the just six news reporters. journalism program at the University of one in Illinois is a fraction of what it used Jeff Rogers tried hard to figure out how Illinois at Springfield. to be. Since the legislative session started to address this gap in state government “I am thrilled to have this new service,” this year, about a dozen reporters, including coverage when he was editor of the Sterling said Jeannette Brickner, executive editor interns, have been assigned to cover what’s Telegraph and Daily Gazette in northern of the Times New Group in Central Illinois, going on in the Illinois capital. A decade ago, Illinois. But he couldn’t make the math work. which publishes papers the Pekin Daily there were 30 full-time statehouse press His two biggests costs at the Shaw Media Times, Chillicothe Times-Bulletin, East reporters in Springfield and even more on publications he edited were personnel and Peoria Times-Courier,, Morton Times-News, session days. newsprint, and he was already stretched thin. Washington Times-Reporter and Woodford It’s loss that is lamented and felt in nearly Now he has. Times. “In today’s times with very small every newsroom in Illinois, from the smallest Rogers is the inaugural bureau chief of newsroom staffs, we need all of the help we weeklies to the major daily newspapers in the new Capitol News Illinois, an initiative of can get. We do use Associated Press stories, Chicago. Even the capital-city paper hasn’t the Illinois Press Foundation, the charitable but Capitol News really focuses on what’s been spared. On May 10, Angie Muhs, arm of the Illinois Press Association. The going on in our state regarding politics and the executive editor of the State Journal- service, which launched on Jan. 28, provides more. These are the stories that will resonate Register, resigned, leaving the Springfield free statehouse coverage to its more than with our readers, and the Capitol News team paper without a top editor. The newspaper, 400 members. Including Rogers, there are is producing a good amount and variety.” owned by Gatehouse Media, already had laid four full-time staff members at the bureau, Since its launch, more than 300 Illinois off its photo and sports editors. It now has as well as two interns from the public affairs papers have published Capitol News 10 Illinois content (nearly 7,000 stories), including the Chicago Sun-Times and suburban Daily Herald. Of those, 255 were weeklies, publications that historically have never had much, if any, statehouse coverage, said Sam R. Fisher, president and chief executive of the Illinois Press Association. “The good thing is that weeklies are running this content,” Fisher said. “We didn’t know the extent the weeklies would embrace this. That is content that is being delivered to readers who haven’t seen that kind of state content before.” Readers of the Springfield paper were used to that kind of comprehensive coverage of state government. But it is now stretched too thin and it shares its statehouse reporter with other papers in the Gatehouse chain. The Journal-Register has published dozens of stories from detention centers. The bureau Illinois readers in some way. state with fewer reporters on the the Capital News Illinois bureau, also covered a brief visit to “I didn’t use a recent Capitol statehouse beat. A Pew Center including articles on health care the capitol grounds by Stormy News story that I believe had to research study five years ago reform, funding for state colleges Daniels, the adult entertainment do with the Chicago school board, found that less than a third of and universities and sports star who said she had an affair because that doesn’t really affect all U.S. newspapers assigned a gambling. with President Trump. Daniels, people here,” he said. “But I will reporter, full-time or part-time, John Homan, managing editor whose legal name is Stephanie include stories about voting and to their statehouse. Nearly 90 of the Southern Illinois Local Clifford, joined a group of smoking age, college and health percent of local TV stations Media Group, which publishes the demonstrators in March to policy, immigration, etc. Those did not assign anyone. It’s Marion Republican and the Du protest the “pole tax” on adult are the types of stories that are undoubtedly even fewer today. Quoin Call, said he has welcomed entertainment venues. relevant to them.” Rogers is hopeful that the the state news coverage. “Too often, local readers The news bureau staff shares bureau could ultimately serve “While I have never focus on just their community office space with the Daily Law as a model for other state press supported national news in small and don’t pay attention to what’s Bulletin and Illinois Times in associations. publications like ours, state news happening even in the next the basement of the capitol “It was relatively easy to set not only helps us fill space but city over sometimes,” said Tim building. The space is overseen up and relatively inexpensive,” informs,” said Homan, whose Rosenberger, managing editor by the Illinois Correspondents he said. “We’re able to do all of papers have published stories on of the Pekin Daily Times. “For Association. proposed legislation to remove them to know what’s going on in Capitol News Illinois has this. It’s really a cost-effective. toxic coal ash pits and renewable their state capitol — what laws provided its coverage even though The need that’s here in Illinois is energy. “It’s relevant because it’s are being passed, what’s being its reporters were denied press everywhere.” our state.” considered, and the general credentials from both the Illinois A version of this story first The bureau has mostly direction their state is going House and Senate because the appeared in Publisher’s Auxiliary, focused on committee hearings in — is crucial, because what’s Illinois Press Association is a the only national publication and proposed legislation before happening there will affect them. registered lobbying organization. serving America’s community it makes it to the floor for a vote, So, I enjoy giving readers a look at That doesn’t mean the bureau newspapers. It is published by the Rogers said. Recent stories all the big and small things going cannot cover the statehouse, but National Newspaper Association. included coverage of a proposal on in Springfield.” it’s harder to do so without official GJR is partnering with Pub Aux to to legalize sports betting and a Rosenberger said he usually run credentials. re-print Jackie Spinner’s monthly bill to ban for-profit immigration stories that will impact his Central Illinois is hardly the only “Local Matters” column.

Too often, local readers focus on just their community and don’t pay attention “to what’s happening even in the next city over sometimes.” — Tim Rosenberger

11 NEWS INTERPRETATION

Missouri Legislature is ‘Exhibit A’ for toxic masculinity by Don Corrigan

In the Missouri Legislature recently, one rights, to allow even easier access to firearms apparent lack of knowledge about “automatic legislator talked about “consensual rape.” in the state, and to vastly curtail the Title IX weapons,” “multi-round gun clips,” “ammo Another greeted women protesting lax gun protections for victims of sexual abuse on magazines,” and the gun culture generally. laws by putting up on his door a silhouette with college campuses. However, attempts to push groups bullet holes. A lobbyist angry about his son’s Right-wing legislators introduced at like Moms Demand Action aside were expulsion from Washington University started a least 20 anti-choice restrictions on the not so easy, with several hundred women dark money fund to weaken protections against issue of abortion in the session. State Rep. assembled in the rotunda of the capitol sexual predators on campus. The legislature Jeff Pogue, R-Salem, introduced measures building. And the women did not flinch in the ignored Roe v. Wade by banning abortion after 8 to completely ban abortion, to forbid face of bullying about their supposed lack of weeks even in cases of rape and incest. pharmacies from dispensing emergency depth in their understanding of firearms. Altogether this recent term of the contraception, and to direct state courts on Missouri legislators may have been Missouri Legislature was characterized by custody arrangements for in vitro embryos. anxious about the large number of women in what critics describe as “toxic masculinity.” Conservative lawmakers also took aim their rotunda. The majority party legislators The term, “toxic masculinity” used to at Title IX provisions that were designed to be confined to gender studies, psychology encourage women to come forward in university classes and men’s self-help groups. Now this settings to report cases of sexual abuse or term denoting the toxicity of certain versions rape. Bill sponsors insisted there’s lack of basic of maleness has entered the mainstream fairness and due process for the accused men of policy-making, political discussion, news in such cases. Organizations against domestic reporting and opinion journalism. and sexual violence beg to differ and criticized It’s no surprise this is happening now. If the anti-Title IX proposals by Missouri legislators. term toxic masculinity is all about misogyny, The super majorities in both capitol male bullying and various degrees of verbal chambers were on a mission to put more aggression, then it can be said America installed guns in the hands of the citizenry, as well as to a classic specimen exhibiting this noxious strain expand the number of places where weapons of male behavior in Donald J. Trump. might be allowed in the state. These lawmakers Trump’s victory raises alarming questions. came under criticism from groups like March Does his triumph in so many states indicate for Our Lives and Moms Demand Action. a backlash against feminism or a stamp of approval on displays of toxic masculinity? “Guns Everywhere” How has an accommodation with his toxic Women’s groups traveled to the state capitol masculinity manifested itself in policy to voice their concern over numerous gun bills initiatives and in discourse on those policies at introduced in the 2019 session. They fought the level of the states? to stop bills that would have allowed guns on With reference to the question of impact college campuses, guns in day care centers, on policy initiatives and discourse on policy bars, and guns in sports arenas. They described at the state level, perhaps there is no better these measures as the “guns everywhere” bills. subject for examination than the state of Moms Demand Action groups have been Missouri after a particularly contentious a particular thorn in the side of many super 2019 session of its legislature. majority legislators. Becky Morgan of the first state chapter in Webster Groves made Microscope On Missouri her first trip to the statehouse in Jefferson City Missouri went for Trump in the 2016 with four other members in 2014. election by an 18.5 point margin, almost twice In 2018, six days after the mass shooting that of Republican Mitt Romney in 2012. at a Parkland, Florida school, more than 350 Although Republicans took a hit in many states members of Moms Demand Action made the in the November 2018 midterms, Missouri was trip. This year, more than 400 members went not one of those states and remained as firmly to the state capital to ask for gun sense from in the Trump fold as it was in 2016. Missouri lawmakers. Trump’s party won every statewide office When they showed up to lobby legislators in Missouri in the 2018 midterms, except for not to pass more lax gun laws in 2018, they that of State Auditor. Republicans also ousted faced a hostile reception. Tires were slashed in the Democratic incumbent, U.S. Sen. Claire a capitol parking lot. Rep Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, McCaskill, and won super majorities in both greeted the visitors with a human silhouette on the Missouri House and Senate. his door full of bullet holes with a slogan that These super majorities wasted no time in this is: “Missouri’s Definition of Gun Control.” early 2019 proposing legislation that clearly The reception for women opposing lax was anathema to many women’s groups in the gun laws was similarly harsh in 2019. Some state. Among these many legislative proposals legislators, who did take the time to talk with were extreme measures to restrict abortion them, dismissed their concerns because of their 12 also may have been paranoid about successes majorities support requiring permits for expulsion from Washington University. women had in replacing men in other state conceal carry; support laws to ban assault Both Republicans and Democrats in the legislatures in the 2018 midterm elections. weapons sales; support strict background legislature expressed doubt about the Title Gabby Giffords, who was seriously checks on arms sales. She said gun lobby IX bills passing in the 2019 session after The injured in a mass shooting while in the U.S. money is the only way to explain why Star’s reporting on McIntosh. Democrats said Congress in 2011, came to Missouri in legislators defy their citizens’ wishes. The Star’s revelations made the bills weakening late spring to talk about taking back state protections for sex abuse victims even more legislatures now under gun lobby control. Fighting Title IX suspect and disturbing. She noted that her Giffords PAC spent $7 After plenty of discussion, pro-gun McIntosh co-founded Kingdom million to win four key U.S. House districts legislation was shelved in 2019, as the Principles, a non-profit entity funding more from NRA-funded incumbents in 2018. attention of lawmakers in Jefferson City than 20 other lobbyists to go after Title IX in Giffords said her PAC is willing to fund gun turned to abortion issues and passing one Missouri. Although McIntosh said Kingdom sense candidates and to train them on how to of the most draconian state laws against Principles’ mission was to research “due stand up to bullying in 2020. She stressed that reproductive rights in America. process” on college campuses, The Star one of the ways “NRA bullies” intimidate is Abortion bills also took priority over reported that he began Kingdom Principles to try to trip up gun sense candidates on their measures designed to water down Title shortly after his son’s expulsion. knowledge about weapons. Giffords’ political IX protections for women seeking justice The national magazine Mother Jones action group will take candidates to gun ranges after being sexually abused on college picked up on the battle in Missouri’s Legislature to teach them about weapons and to talk more campuses. However, the moves to undercut over Title IX saying the acrimony over the bills effectively about the gun culture in Missouri and Title IX protections in the legislature went echoed a national conversation focused on the other states. completely off the rails when The Kansas rights of men accused of sexual violence. It’s Missouri is a tough “gun nut” to crack, but City Star revealed that lobbyist Richard a debate that’s been growing in volume since Giffords came to the state to raise hopes. McIntosh was pushing for the changes after President Donald Trump took office. She cited polls that show decisive citizen a Title IX investigation led to his own son’s Continued on next page

13 The April 2019 Mother Jones article Planned Parenthood clinic in the state. Clinic said the national debate “reached a fever doctors conceded that 2019 has become a pitch during the confirmation hearings of stressful time for patients and providers. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Dr. Colleen McNicholas, one of seven The new legislative effort in Missouri reflects doctors at the final remaining clinic in Missouri, the escalating fear, consistently pushed said she feared a shutdown of the St. Louis by Trump — himself accused of sexual clinic. She said many Missouri women would misconduct by at least 20 women — that any then have to travel across state lines for man could be falsely accused of rape: ‘It is reproductive health services, while others might a very scary time for young men in America,’ choose “self-managed abortions.” the president has stated.” In the June article, McNicholas described In his effort to get the Missouri legislators the satisfaction she has derived from her work to weaken Title IX, McIntosh pitched a link to a and why it has to continue: “In those three blog on the men’s rights website, a voiceformen. com, in which the writer contends “women, minutes (of performing an abortion I am able) more than men, regret casual sex, and it is these to give this person their life back and they get unsatisfying sexual unions caused by regret to be a 12-year-old again, or they get to go — not rape — that is the real sex problem on back to finish their college education, a feat campus.” that maybe nobody in their family has had yet. In other words, the problem is not rape, That’s why I am able to do this sort of work, but female regret over sex, and Title IX is why I am able to continue to do it in a really ruining the lives of campus males by making Provided by Don Corrigan challenging state, in a really challenging time.” campus women victims of imaginary rape. When Moms Demand Action went to the state One Missouri legislator said the problem capital to ask for gun control, Rep. Mike Kelley, Dailies did a credible job was women claiming to be victims after R-Lamar, greeted the visitors with a human Missouri’s major dailies have done a “consensual rape.” GOP legislators said they silhouette on his door full of bullet holes with a slogan: “Missouri’s Definition of Gun Control.” credible job covering the legislature’s actions will return to this “campus problem” for men that have brought down the wrath of women in the 2020 session when things calm down abortion legislation garnered ink from coast The Kansas City Star’s reporting on the over The Kansas City Star revelations. to coast with in-depth pieces in The New York formation of Kingdom Principles to fight Wendy Murphy, the director of the Times and in Mother Jones magazine. Title IX with its state legislation was a game Women’s and Children’s Advocacy project at The New York Times quoted Rep. Ian changer. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch gave New England Law Boston, who has litigated Mackey, D-Richmond Heights, who was front-page treatment to GOP mega-donor Title IX cases for more than 20 years, told vehemently opposed to the 2019 session anti- David Humphries’ plan to nullify the abortion The Star that the proposed changes would abortion legislation. In a passionate address bill passed by Republican legislators. weaken Title IX and further victimize women to his statehouse colleagues, Mackey said: What the news media might do better is to with a system that largely favors those “Women brought all of us into this world, and I accused of harassment, abuse, or assault. sure hope they vote all of us out.” show the increasing pattern of lawmaking “I see this system as designed to Mackey’s minority party viewpoint was that is so at odds with the interests of women. A message females that, especially in the trumped by that of majority floor leader, template sanctioned and passed down from the context of education, you’re supposed to Rep. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, who said Trump presidency’s in-your-face misogyny and be raped and be quiet. Because there’s no the legislation “represents what we believe its clear hostility on so many women’s issues. upside. There’s no upside. It’s all burdens, ... is unquestionably the position of the vast Trump’s presidency has emboldened hurdles, punishment, stigma, suffering, that’s majority of the people of Missouri.” legislatures in other states to attack Title what you get for reporting (the abuse),” Rowden’s confidence was echoed by his IX protections and reproductive rights. His Murphy said. fellow Republicans, who said it was the type bombastic speeches at the annual NRA of legislation designed to withstand any kind conventions have inspired states like Missouri Criminalizing Abortion of challenge. However, the bill immediately to seek to shred the last vestiges of restraints Women protesting in Jefferson City over inspired the threat of challenges in both the on guns. All of this has served to raise the ire “guns everywhere” bills helped stave off some courts and at the ballot box. and the voices of women’s groups. bad legislation, but they will have to live on to Of special note was the resolute challenge In fairness, not all women want more fight another day for gun sense in the 2020 from Republican mega-donor David Humphries gun control, as the Second Amendment Wives session. Women expressing alarm in Jefferson of Joplin. In 2016, Humphries support of groups will tell you. There also are women who City over the bills to weaken Title IX protections Republicans was solid with he and his family are “purists” on abortion, who proudly oppose saw some success as well, but they also will contributing more than $14 million to the GOP. it even in cases of rape and incest. There are have to live on to fight hard in another session in Humphries termed the abortion bill passed by women who fear that Title IX protections for 2020. The future is not all that promising. Republican lawmakers as “too extreme” with co-eds will leave their college sons vulnerable its lack of consideration for female victims of On the issue of abortion in Missouri, women to errant charges of sex assault. seeking to protect reproductive rights lost big incest and rape. However, even these women, who reject time in the 2019 session. Missouri joined some Humphries put up $1 million for a hastily the stance of vocal women’s rights groups on of the most reactionary states in the country, put together Committee to Protect the Rights these issues, must at least recoil at the lack from Alabama to North Dakota, to curtail of Victims of Rape & Incest. He also sued of basic human decency when faced with access to abortion. The Missouri Senate voted Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for 24-10, along party lines, to ban abortion at eight his decision to block a proposed referendum Trump’s misogynist history, language, behavior weeks. The House voted 110 to 44, also along to allow Missouri voters to have a say on and actions, both past and present. party lines. the anti-abortion measure passed by state Even women firmly in Trump’s corner on Gov. Mike Parson signed the bill that will legislators. In a separate action, the ACLU political issues have to be concerned by his make abortion doctors into criminals who could also went after Ashcroft’s decision to block a discourse. Never mind his effect on state lose their licenses and go to prison for up to citizen referendum. legislators expounding on sexual assault and 15 years. The law bans abortions before many In June, Mother Jones magazine chose “consensual rape.” They have to be concerned women even can know they are pregnant. It to focus on the multi-front attacks on about what impact he has on the behavior of makes no exceptions for rape or incest. reproductive freedom in Missouri by taking their sons, and on the safety of their daughters, The Missouri Legislature’s extreme anti- a look at the concerns of the last operating with his behavior and sexist pronouncements. 14 Southern Illinois paper breaks story in print about state cancelling Confederate Railroad band. It still goes viral. by Jackie Spinner

Just days before the 4th “I do think it is a big story of July holiday, the DuQuoin for the area as it is another Weekly in Southern Illinois got example of how the governor a tip the country music band, and southern Illinois don’t get Confederate Railroad, would along, understand each other,” no longer be playing at the said Mary J. Koester, managing DuQuoin State Fair in August. editor and editor of the North At first it appeared like a County News in Red Bud. typical scheduling conflict, Southern Illinois news which wouldn’t have been much outlets have continued to of a story. But earlier in June, a follow the story closely, journalist in the Illinois capital including a squabble between had asked readers in his widely the governor’s office and a read political blog whether a lawmaker over a meeting that band with “confederate” in its took place between them. (The name should be playing at a representative, Terri Bryant state-owned facility. of Murphysboro, posted an The paper made the account of the meeting on her connection and broke the Facebook page that governor’s story in its July 3 print edition, office disputed.) confirming state officials Their counterparts in the booted the band from the fair north also have weighed in. The lineup because of its name. This is a reminder that for symbol “of racists, of white Springfield Journal-Register Other than the print story, community newspapers, word- nationalists, of the alt-right. I devoted a podcast to the the Weekly — and its sister of-mouth still goes a long way. cannot think that the state of controversy. The Chicago Sun- paper, the Pinckneyville Press — “We’ve doubled down on Illinois should be sponsoring Times editorial board weighed didn’t share the story digitally. print because print works,” something that is amplifying in, arguing the governor should It didn’t put the story on either Egbert said. that symbol. That is why we have let the band play. “It feels paper’s Facebook page or The story started in June took the action we did.” to us like a poorly thought-out website. when longtime Springfield The story played big violation of the spirit of free “It didn’t take long for us journalist Rich Miller asked nationally because it had the speech, our nation’s most to learn we were competing his readers whether taxpayers classic elements of a liberal sacred principle, given that the with ourselves when we throw should foot the bill for a band versus conservative clash even band was hired before it was stories up on Facebook or on that celebrated the confederacy. without the Illinois particulars: given the boot,” according to the the website,” said Jeff Egbert, Miller’s Capitol Fax has a a newly elected Democratic editorial. The News-Gazette in publisher and co-owner of the website but its subscription governor from Chicago who just Champaign also criticized the Weekly and Press newspapers. content is sent via fax. raised taxes goes after a band set governor. But that didn’t stop the Confederate Railroad, which to play in conservative Southern A band member called the story from going viral. Readers has played at the Southern Illinois where voters (and their state’s decision “disappointing” shared pictures of the print Illinois state fair before, is a politicians) consistently feel in a statement that also thanked story on Twitter and local Georgia-based country rock overlooked — if not downright fans for their outpouring of TV station WSIL covered the band with hits like “Jesus and stiffed — by the more powerful support. After its state fair cancellation, crediting the Mama” and Trashy Women.” lawmakers to the populous north. gig was cancelled, a Harley- Weekly for the exclusive. As The band’s logo features (Conservative Illinois lawmakers Davidson dealership in nearby the story started taking off in a steam locomotive flying have twice now produced a Marion, Illinois, booked the band Southern Illinois, AP’s reporter Confederate flags. In defending resolution calling on Congress to for a private concert. in Springfield wrote an account, his administration’s decision declare Chicago the 51st state as “It’s been a very rapidly with ABC, Fox News, Billboard to cancel the band, Gov. J.B. part of a downstate movement to evolving story,” Egbert told GJR. and The Washington Post Pritzker told reporters the separate the nation’s third largest But don’t look online for the eventually picking it up. confederate flag remains a city from the rest of Illinois.) paper’s updates.

It didn’t take long for us to learn we were competing with ourselves when we throw stories up on Facebook or on the “website.” — Jeff Egbert

15 Outdoors Co-op has two efforts to support environmental journalism by Amelia Blakely

REI Co-op wants to get people off their storytelling that is off of their phones in more phones and into the outdoors by investing in of a focused way,” Mottola said. local news organizations and publishing its The publication will continue to show What if we took own magazine instead of its catalog. some merchandise in the magazine, but The recreational outdoor equipment the form of the content will be an editorial the elements of retail store is scheduled to publish its new fashion. The gear highlighted in Uncommon “ magazine, Uncommon Path, this fall. Path will be gear that’s been tested by the storytelling that are REI also announced it would match up writers, Mottola said. Products that are built to $10,000 in fundraising efforts to 10 local sustainably, inspired by a place or event, or happening digitally, news organizations that have a focus on innovated for a sustainable reason will be environmental and investigative reporting. highlighted in the magazine. really brought those People who previously received an REI to life in more of The Switch catalog may also receive the first issue of The switch to an editorial print publication Uncommon Path when it’s mailed. Any of the traditional print came with the natural evolution of the catalog, the cooperative’s 18 million members may which had become more editorially focused in also receive the magazine. Mottola said a format, and invited recent years, Paolo Mottola, Editorial Director of “subscription-type” service will be evaluated Uncommon Path said. later on. people to indulge in REI, which is organized as a First, the co-op wants to understand the cooperative, has produced a wide range of reception of the magazine itself. Uncommon storytelling that is content covering educational, utilitarian, Path will be sold at all of the REI stores and informational and entertainment topics, he select newsstands. off of their phones said. The co-op’s purpose is to awaken a long-lived love of the outdoors, Mottola said. Stories that reside outside in more of a focused “What if we took the elements of Uncommon Path will feature stories storytelling that are happening digitally, really that explore topics like equity, climate, and w a y.” brought those to life in more of the traditional sustainability through the outdoors, Mottola print format, and invited people to indulge in said. — Paolo Mottola 16 The mission of the organization is to increase the quality, quantity, and understanding of investigative journalism to “inform and strengthen democracy.” — Andy Hall

The first issue features Nedra Deadwyler, center does. see more reporting and media outdoors, but the founder of Civil Bikes, through a bike trip Fundraising is always a conversation to also knew that it wasn’t in the role to tell all in Atlanta, Georgia. have, Dempsey said. stories, Mottola said. Civil Bikes is an organization that puts An example of the cost of investigative The issue of climate change and the people on bikes to explore places in Atlanta reporting Dempsey shared is an ongoing individual or collective impact on climate that were affected by the Civil Warr and race. project about pesticide drift that has is hard to grapple with, he said. That is why Mottola said the feature on Deadwyler’s damaged millions of acres of cotton and REI doesn’t presume that as a retailer and organization is a great example of a story soybean farms. co-op out of Seattle, Washington that it can that explores equity in an environmental way. As a way to report on pesticides communicate relevantly in every community, “That is a form of tourism. The way into differently, the project has been measuring even ones with an REI store, he said. that form of tourism is through history, race, pesticide drift in five locations since 2018. For people to take action about climate equity and certainly an outdoor experience. This project has cost the Midwest Center change, issues need to have a local focus, An outdoor experience to learn,” Mottola over $10,000 Dempsey said. Mottola said. said. Journalism organizations are “We wanted to encourage and enable predominately the funders of the Midwest more newsrooms and independent Empowering local Center but the organization is reaching out newsrooms to expand their outdoor environmental journalism to the public for more individual donations, environmental coverage,” Mottola said. Dempsey said. REI is investing up to $100,000 into local Mottola said his colleagues made the “It’s always a question of where will that newsrooms across the US as a second effort decision of investment as they observed individual dollar come from,” she said. to strengthen environmental journalism. local newsrooms and climate change Andy Hall, the Executive Director and “We believe there’s not enough media coverage shrinking. co-founder of Wisconsin Watch, said, “I journalism happening around the outdoors “We know that is creating a disservice welcome the support from individuals, and environmentalism,” Mottola said. “We to the community they [local news] serve,” corporations and organizations that wanted to create a way to support external Mottola said. “Climate change is the nonprofit independent newsrooms and we recognize the critical importance of journalism to our way of life.” pressing issue of our time and generation.” wanted to do that with integrity and respect When asked if he thinks more with what those newsrooms are trying to Wisconsin Watch is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization corporations or business organizations will accomplish.” begin making investments in civic initiatives Among the local news organization housed at School of Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin Madison. like journalism, Mottola said it was hard to benefiting from the REI investments are say. InvestigateWest from Washington state, The newsroom focuses on government accountability and quality of life including Wisconsin Watch’s Hall said news Carolina Public Press from North Carolina, organizations need to keep complete Adirondack Explorer fromNew York, EcoRI economic, cultural and justice issues, Hall said. editorial and journalistic independence for from Rhode Island, Midwest Center for REI’s investment will help Wisconsin this model of journalism funding to work. Investigative Reporting in Illinois, High Watch continue to train the next generation’s “It’s important to be open to the public Country News in Colorado, Bay Nature investigative journalists, Hall said. The about the sources of our funding,” Hall said. Institute in California, Wisconsin Watch money can be used to fund the work of Corporate support in journalism is in Wisconsin, VTDigger in Vermont, and an intern for half a year and support travel something that should be thought through Southerly in the American South. expenses to cover stories that extend out of News organizations receiving state. in a mindful manner, Hall said. In the future, investments are nonprofit newsrooms “We will work hard to continue that to he said it was likely to see more corporate covering issues concerning the environment. better fulfill our mission and reach more support for topics that people believe in. REI is contributing the money through people,” Hall said. “The mission of the The industry as a whole is looking at a NewsMatch, a fundraising campaign organization is to increase the quality, variety of funding models, Dempsey said. funded by the Knight Foundation and Miami quantity, and understanding of investigative “What might work for some, might not Foundation, to match news organization’s journalism to inform and strengthen work for others,” Dempsey said in an email. fundraising efforts up to $10,000 for 10 democracy.” “I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all news groups. Wisconsin Watch has an audience solution, however, there are lessons we can Pamela Dempsey, the Executive Director of about 82 million. Newsrooms or new learn moving forward and best practices to of the Midwest Center for Investigative broadcast shows can use its reporting draw upon.” Reporting, said in an emailed response that through a password protected section of For REI, it’s the love of the outdoors that in order to get the money news organizations Wisconsin Watch’s website, Hall said. inspires its work and financial support for like hers must initially raise $10,000 in environmental journalism. individual donations. An “Uncommon Path” for “We’ve got an agenda. We want to see If the Midwest Center does fundraise the advocacy reporting more people in the outdoors and understand $10,000, the matching money from REI will REI decided to invest in local news the problems facing the outdoors,” Mottola go to expenses related to the reporting the organizations because the co-op wanted to said. 17 Exit of Illinois’ longest-serving investigative reporting duo signals end of an era Belleville News-Democrat by Ian Karbal

It was a hell of a way to go out. attorney, Brendan Kelly. In their final investigation for the This, according to Pawlaczyk, was the Belleville News-Democrat, one of Illinois’ top most difficult part. “You might say, ‘well, that investigative reporting duos found East St. sounds like it’s simple,’ but nobody keeps track. Louis was not only one of the deadliest cities And also the local media, including the BND in America, it also had one of the lowest did not always write a story about the murder.” rates for solving murders. The initial plan was to do a series Through meticulous reporting Beth solving some of the East St. Louis murder Hundsdorfer and George Pawlazcyk were cases which never led to convictions. But known for in their nearly 20 years together at as Hundsdorfer and Pawlaczyk compiled the Metro East newspaper, the pair showed a database of the murders, other larger the murders were concentrated around the narratives jumped out at them. city’s public housing projects and also raised Two stories from the five part series did the possibility of a serial killer. delve into individual murders, more closely The series was published in its entirety reflecting the initial ambitions for the series. on the paper’s website in April and in five Though the series was comprehensive parts in the print edition for a week. — featuring the perspectives of victims, “Every year you see this,” said residents, law enforcement, activists and Hundsdorfer, who noted none of their legislators — it garnered a mixed reception sources in East St. Louis was surprised from residents of East St. Louis. with the findings. “This affects everybody Tim Fox, the editor of the magazine I Am that lives in East St. Louis. Everybody. EStL, wrote a Facebook post that was spotted Everybody knows somebody. Everybody’s by BND city editor Gary Dotson, who edited related to somebody. It’s so prevalent in the Hundsdorfer and Palwaczyk’s series, and community.” subsequently printed as an op-ed in the BND.

This affects everybody that lives in East St. Louis. Everybody. Everybody “knows somebody. Everybody’s related to somebody. It’s so prevalent in the community.” — Beth Hundsdorfer

The investigation began with a conversation “The article did make some good distinctions about the 2017 murder of Alexis Winston about the changing nature of violent crime, but in East St. Louis, Hundsdorfer told GJR. In those distinctions can be made about violent spite of strong evidence, the case was never crime everywhere,” wrote Fox. “When random solved. That same year, there was a spike in shootings — of total strangers, by total strangers the number of East St. Louis murders, up to — are an almost daily occurrence across the 37 compared to the city’s average of 24. In country, why is East St. Louis singled out?” a town of 27,000 people, the East St. Louis Fox’s work at I Am EStL aims to showcase murder rate was projected at 96 deaths per the positive side of the city. “Changing 100,000 people between 2000 and 2018. By perceptions was [I Am EStL founder, Charmaine that measure, it was the most dangerous city Savage’s] goal for the magazine, and it’s my goal in the country. Only 25 percent of the murders as editor,” Fox also wrote. “Of course, the city in that 18 year period led to convictions. needs more resources to investigate crime and To figure out the prosecution rate, fight it, but it needs resources for crime victims Hundsdorfer and Pawlaczyk had to dig and everyone else in the community, too. Those through a trove of local court reporting and resources will never come if people are afraid to team up with former St. Clair County State’s go to East St. Louis.” 18 with Pawtaczyk at the Metro East Meteor news site the two started. When I spoke to them for this story, Pawlaczyk had a draft of the duo’s upcoming true crime novel, their second after 2012’s “Murder on a Lonely Road,” in front of him on his computer. Nor do they have any plans to stop investigating in smaller towns, where papers increasingly lack the resources to carry out such time-consuming work. “I hope that I’m able to fill that hole,” said Hundsdorfer. “I mean every job that you have can be investigative. I mean if you’re a cop reporter for a local paper, you can do investigative work. You gotta put in the time, but you can do it.” After Hundsdorfer and Pawlaczyk’s exit, Dotson still hopes to keep investigative and watchdog journalism a central part of the paper’s identity. After Hundsdorfer and Pawlaczyk’s exit, BND reporter Lexi Cortes, who recently earned a place in Photo by Paul Sableman Editor & Publisher’s list of 25 under 35, was reassigned as a full-time investigative The St. Louis skyline and Gateway Arch rise from the tree tops from this view across the river in East. St. Louis. reporter. “We have tried to build [investigative This sentiment was echoed, in starker took it to the next level, in part because they reporting] into all of our beats and put less terms, by the recently sworn-in mayor of East worked together as a team for so long and emphasis on going to a meeting and writing St. Louis, Robert Eastern III, in an interview were so successful.” about what happened at the meeting,” with the Gateway Journalism Review. Hundsdorfer and Pawlaczyk’s work at “It makes it seem like all East St. Louis the paper earned them national recognition. said Dotson. “And instead using our time citizens are a part of gun violence and stuff in Working together, they won a 2012 and our resources in doing accountability that nature, but that’s a falsehood,” said Eastern. Investigative Reporters and Editors award, journalism.” “It also gives the outside community a reason and were nominated for another six. In state Yet the paper’s shrinking resources, a to think that East St. Louis [residents] are all contests, they beat out the Chicago Tribune spat of recent layoffs and restructuring could bad people, and that’s not true. We are a city of and the Sun-Times for top prizes. affect the paper’s ability to continue such champions. We’re a prideful community.” “Beth and I have never thought that work. Between 2015 and 2017, the paper’s But Hundsdorfer and Pawlaczyk see it we live in a small town, and certainly stuff daily circulation fell from 33,000 to 20,828. differently. we’ve done has had a national effect,” “I’m not certain how it’s all gonna pan “To single out East St. Louis, and to said Pawlaczyk. “If we find a story – say out,” said Hundsdorfer. “I guess we’ll all see point out that it is the most dangerous small mentally ill prisoners being held in solitary that. But, I mean, their problems aren’t any city in the U.S. … is not a statement about confinement for a long time – that’s as true problems that aren’t being had by every the people that live there. It’s a fact.” said as the plot of Le Misérable or whatever. Metro newspaper. The [St. Louis] Post- Hundsdorfer. “It’s not like we think this is a That’s worldwide.” Dispatch has cut back. And they’ve lost a band of roving criminals. It’s not. There’s very Pawlaczyk was referring to the duo’s lot of their experience, and that’ s a little good people in East St Louis who deserve 2009 series, “Trapped in Tamms,” about a troubling. But what does it mean? I don’t better than what they’re getting.” supermax prison in a southern Illinois town know. I don’t know. Maybe you’ll see some “No one knows that better than us,” with a population of roughly 1,000, which new young rock stars emerge out of all of Pawlaczyk added. won the pair a George Polk award. Over the course of their time at the BND, In March 2019, Pawlaczyk took a buyout this. I don’t know.” Pawlaczyk and Hundsdorfer worked on a from their parent company, McClatchy. When Hundsdorfer and Pawlaczyk were dozen investigations, Dotson, said continued Hundsdorfer moved to St. Louis Pubic Radio at the paper, Dotson sometimes had to a tradition of accountability journalism at the as an investigative reporter and coordinator defend keeping a team of two investigative paper. According to Pawlaczyk, almost all of but left a few months later. She now works reporters on staff to senior editors and these investigations led to legislative change. publishers, though both Hundsdorfer and In 2013, Tamms correctional center was Pawlaczyk often covered daily and weekend closed following a report by Hundsdorfer beats between investigations. and Pawlaczyk about the mistreatment of We had a long “You have two people who were mentally ill prisoners. In 2006, the director working on one thing for a long time,” said of Illinois DCFS resigned a week before history of being a Hundsdorfer. “If they needed us, we would Hundsdorfer and Pawlaczyk published “ step in, of course. We’re not prima donnas or a series on child deaths related to DCFS small, aggressive, negligence. Following the article, a series of anything, but it’s a thing to commit to. It’s a reforms were enacted. watchdog lot. With the changes economically, I imagine “We had a long history of being a it’s even harder.” small, aggressive, watchdog investigative investigative Pawlaczyk’s plan “is real simple,” he said. newspaper,” said Dotson, who’s worked “Finish this true crime book, win the lucky closely with Hundsdorfer and Pawlaczyk’s newspaper.” day lotto, and find a really good story that for all their major investigations. “They not Beth and I can collaborate on and win the only enhanced it and solidified it, but they — Gary Doston Pulitzer.” 19 Pulitzer filmmakers brought publisher to life as ‘wake up call’ for today’s democracy by Oren Rudavsky and Robert Seidman

Joseph Pulitzer was one of material about the man and of America’s great newspaper And author and professor his paper, and an interview publishers, but few people with author Nicholson Baker. today know much about him. Andie Tucher understood Baker wrote Doublefold, about When we first decided to make “ the assassination by microfilm a documentary about the 19th and articulated with great of nearly all of our nation’s century publisher and American newspapers. He also personally media icon — Joseph Pulitzer: enthusiasm why Pulitzer’s saved the last paper copies of Voice of the People (which aired Pulitzer’s World and dozens of on PBS in April, 2019), we were daily became the immigrant other significant newspapers faced with a daunting task. from destruction when the Filmmakers depend on images paper, the people’s paper.” British Library auctioned them and there were only a handful of all off to the highest bidder. We Pulitzer images for us to work paper the lively appeal that it knew, in making the film, that we also got help from author Chris with. Aside from the eponymous had when the eye swept down, had to take an old story and meld Daly, whose book Covering prizes, Pulitzer was the publisher over and across the page. We it to the breaking news of today — America: A Narrative History who took on a popular President wanted dramatic camera moves the politics that demand that we of a Nation’s Journalism, and who defiantly helmed the and stillness, moves into focus connect the storms and world- succinctly and elegantly told New York World and the St. Louis on musicians playing a favorite changing events of a bygone era. the story of our newspapers Post-Dispatch. Schubert composition for Pulitzer It started with a conversation and Pulitzer’s central role in We had to recreate his paper even as he despaired over the loss between Bob and me in 2013 modernizing the newspaper. The World in ways we couldn’t of his favored daughter Lucille on and then with interviews with a And author and professor Andie have imagined--to give a sense New Year’s Eve of 1898. small band of excellent talkers/ Tucher articulated with great of how Pulitzer and his editors But it was challenging figuring thinkers — Pulitzer’s biographer enthusiasm how Pulitzer’s daily produced the most modern out how to put these pieces James McGrath Morris — who became the immigrant paper, the of newspapers and gave the together and where to start. We knew every nook and cranny people’s paper. 20 We met Chris Daly at his home era’s hits and dress patterns that young Pulitzer and we decided to — drifting off in a rowboat into in the Boston area in early 2015 made the nickel Sunday paper film him getting a 19th century an impenetrable fog, sun, tides — with a few lights, a camera indispensable to New Yorkers and, eye exam with our optometry expert and changeable weather. But we and mics. The intimacy of our soon, the entire country. Daniel Albert. The results of this persevered. shot put Daly at ease. Not certian By talking to and filming shoot convinced us to try another Only days before our this would be the real shoot interviews with our cast of with Pulitzer reading Dickens to yacht shoot we realized the rather than a warm up, he was characters — intimate, lengthy learn English, then playing chess overwhelming significance of spontaneous in describing the discussions — and by reading against himself and then writing the Panama Canal story to our world of Pulitzer. The natural light all the books we could find to a love letter to Kate Davis, his bride- film — The drama of a lone blind streaming into his living room was illuminate the story, we were on to-be. Master calligrapher Ted Kadin publisher taking on a President perfect for the tone of the film we our way. We collaborated with lent his talents to recreating the love become exceedingly relevant — were looking for. editor Ramón Rivera Moret, whose letter. We filmed as Daniel Witkin Pulitzer used the term “fake news” For Baker’s shoot, we went thoughtfulness and nuanced sat poised with the moving pen. The 100 years ago — the first use of to his home in Maine in the fall storytelling gifts gave us the excellent results of these shoots — the term we found, though of of 2015 and also filmed in the backbone of a through-line and expertly shot in a hurry by Wolfgang course fake news is as old as The warehouse near his home, where who made the second-by-second — led to our biggest gamble. Odyssey, we suppose. Nicholson preserved Pulitzer’s decisions in which every transition Producer Andrea Miller started Then we added voices of paper — photographing it himself made sense. looking for a yacht to film, that superlative talkers — authors with a large format camera — all We took trips to St. Louis was period accurate and close David Nasaw, Elisabeth Gitter, work that ended up in his and his where Pulitzer got his start and to the mammoth size — over 300 Hasia Diner, Dan Czitrom, Nancy wife Margaret Brentano’s masterly where we filmed at the St. Louis ft. long (only JP Morgan had a Tomes, David Redden and others The World on Sunday (Bulfinch Post-Dispatch — Pulitzer’s first bigger one) — to film and which such as optometry historian Press, 2005), another prime English language paper and we could afford. The generosity of Daniel Albert who himself played source for the film. The same first great success — and then Robert McNeil who had restored a a role in our recreations, using the personal attention that Baker and interviewed (on the cutting room steam yacht called the Cangarda tools of the 1880’s to diagnose Brentano gave to the newspaper floor) photographers David Carson provided a way to visually extend Pulitzer’s detached retina. is what we tried to give the couple and Robert Cohen and photo our story — giving Pulitzer an Later Liev Schreiber signed on editor Lynden Steele who enlarged emotional life embodied by as we sat and listened to Baker, to eloquently speak Pulitzer’s words an eloquent talker and writer who and updated the Pulitzer saga an actor our casting director with an immigrant’s accent. Tim effortlessly spun out the story of with their wrenching 2015 Pulitzer Adrienne Stern found. In his first Blake Nelson evocatively recreated why he loves Joseph Pulitzer, why Prize winning photographs of the role — Paul Grossman, a writer Teddy Roosevelt — and our other he and Brentano took the time and protests following the Michael and teacher in New York, nailed superlative actors added their own trouble and enormous expense to Brown killing in Ferguson, it. We spent two days in Maine distinctive talents — Adam Driver create that wonderful book and Missouri. with Grossman (silently) playing as the narrator, Rachel Brosnahan why Pulitzer’s paper was such a We relied on the archival an older Pulitzer look-alike, along as Nellie Bly, Lauren Ambrose as huge success. The newspaper work of a half dozen superb with his secretaries, and a quartet Kate Davis, Hugh Dancy as Pulitzer’s brilliantly and incisively explored researchers, Pru Ardnt and Susan of musicians on-board. Sounds secretary Alleyne Ireland and others. the political stories of the day Hormuth and our associate simple, right? Until you figure The film, which took five but also had sections on home producer Clare Redden, who in plane travel, ferry schedules, etiquette, on sports, and on the found images that brought to changeable weather, and multiple years to complete from that initial daily lives of immigrants. life Pulitzer’s foreign travels with period costume changes. Then conversation Bob and I had, was While our early work was hand-tinted color postcards. The there was the issue of recreating funded through contributions completed with a skeleton crew, archive in Pulitzer’s hometown of 1890’s newspapers so that you from the National Endowment we recognized when to bring in Mako sent us evocative images could hold them in your hands for the Humanities, the Carnegie the big guns and hired one of the from the turn of the century, without them falling apart — Corporation, Roxanne and Scott best in the business, Wolfgang and the filmmaker Borka Péter thank you fabricator Renate Bok as well as the Berk Foundation, Held, for our shoot at the Duke provided footage of Mako today. Spiegler. And loads of equipment Norman Pearlstine and Jane Boon Archives. That’s where Pulitzer’s Andras Csillag, a Hungarian and trunks of clothing expertly and other individuals and American paper — a 30-year daily run of scholar of Pulitzer, filled in details selected by Asa Thornton. Masters and PBS gave their it — is housed in temperature of his early life. It goes without saying that invaluable support. and humidity controlled archival But our story still lacked vitality there was nothing in our original The film took 18 months to edit, preservation mode. Wolfgang and visual substance and drama. budget for this budget-breaking with friendly (mostly) arguments brought in a full crew, two We needed a big set piece to truly extravagance. But, as filmmakers over words and structure and cameras — and the assistance set the story in motion and a way to around the world know, a film music, requiring the writing and and accommodation of the staff tell the story of a dead man with only makes demands on the director rewriting and rewriting of sentences at the Rubinstein Rare Book and twenty or so images. Despite some just as a director makes demands to give meaning and nuance to one Manuscript Library made it [the ambivalence about recreations, one on a film. man’s incredible life journey. shoot] all possible. Baker flew in day our researcher tilted his head The weather cooperated as In the end, Pulitzer proved to to describe the newspaper page- at an angle just as I was looking at did all members of the crew, and be that most contemporary of by-page — to note the political our meager number of stills and it Robert McNeil had us all stay stories, a slap in the face reminder thunderbolts and the intimate struck me that he looked exactly in his guest house in Isleboro, of how history repeats itself and a idiosyncrasies — such as the Roly- like a young Pulitzer, down to the Maine, with his personal chef wake-up call for the need of a free Poly’s — cut out action figures shading and shape of his beard. and boat captain at our service. press to preserve our quite fragile for kids — sheet music of the Aha! Daniel Witkin became our There were multiple mini-dramas democracy.

We took trips to St. Louis where Pulitzer got his start and where we filmed at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Pulitzer’s “first English language paper and first great success ... .” 21 Former Post-Dispatch editor: Joseph Pulitzer set the template for American newspapers by Richard Weiss

The story of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is embodied in the ideals of the man who My father had more than a passing founded it in 1878, said Richard H. Weiss, a former editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. interest in Pulitzer. He worked at what Weiss introduced a new documentary on Joseph Pulitzer on June 6 at the St. Louis “was then KSD-TV, a Pulitzer-owned Jewish Film Festival. Known as the “Pulitzer Platform,” the ideals of the first Joseph operation, just several blocks down Pulitzer, who purchased the bankrupt St. Louis Dispatch at a public auction and 12th Street from the newspaper. The merged it with the St. Louis Evening Post, set the Post-Dispatch apart from other trade name for his television work was news organizations, Weiss said. The platform concluded: “never be satisfied with producer. But whenever people asked merely printing news, always be drastically independent, never be afraid to attack what our dad did for a living in those wrong, whether by predatory plutocracy or predatory poverty.“ Weiss, in explaining what days, my sister and I proudly told them the platform came to mean to him over 30 years in the Post-Dispatch newsroom, cited that dad “wrote the news.” the down-to-earth words of former managing editor Dick Weil who said, “We are a lot like And so began my education. First I was shown So now I could attach faces and hockey players. We are ever willing to go into “the Platform.” “Predatory plutocracy?” What personalities to the bylines, and it wasn’t the corners, take our licks, get our noses exactly was that? And he explained. long before I wanted to become one of bloodied and our teeth broken, all for the Later, he handed me a book — coffee-table them. And, even more, my dad wanted me to sake of getting the story.” Here are Weiss’ full size — with the ink work of an artist known become one of them. And so I did. remarks at the film festival: by a single name — Fitzpatrick. His editorial When I arrived at the Post-Dispatch on Despite my grizzled appearance, I want cartoons for the Post-Dispatch were bold, Dec. 1, 1975, I walked into something akin to assure you that I did not know the first strident, easily understood. Good versus evil. I to a movie set on the fifth floor. Managing Joseph Pulitzer. He died in 1911, just before pored over the book again and again. editor Evarts Graham looked like Spencer my time. Not so with another book published Tracy. He sat at a desk in a glass office and And yet I knew him. by the Post-Dispatch: Joseph Pulitzer II’s smoked a pipe. Underwoods and Olympias And I didn’t know the second Joseph report to America after a post-war visit clacked, and men with classy names like Pulitzer. He died in 1955, when I was four to the German concentration camps. The Selwyn Pepper in white shirts and ties years old. pictures were this Jewish kid’s nightmarish shouted, “Copy!” And yet I knew him. introduction to the enormity of the Graham was a Harvard grad, and many I did know the third Joseph Pulitzer, who Holocaust. others were from Yale, Princeton, and died in 1993. By then, I had been at the Post- My father had more than a passing Stanford. One reporter, not much older than Dispatch 18 years. Still, we were not exactly interest in Pulitzer. He worked at what was me, had left Harvard Law to work for the pals. Never did lunch. then KSD-TV, a Pulitzer-owned operation, just Post-Dispatch. And yet I knew him very well. several blocks down 12th Street from the But after a while, the pedigrees and I want o tell you how I knew all these men. newspaper. The trade name for his television sheepskins didn’t matter much. The guy who It started when I was about 11. By then, work was producer. But whenever people taught me the most in the early going had I had pretty strong opinions. One of them asked what our dad did for a living in those attended the University of Vermont and State was that of the two newspapers that arrived days, my sister and I proudly told them that Agricultural College. But the cigar-smoking at our house each day, the St. Louis Globe- dad “wrote the news.” Harry Levins could take your 18 inches of Democrat was by far the best. The Globe had Of course, a lot of that news came from hackneyed, overwrought prose and whittle Peanuts, the best comic strip in the world; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, for which my it down to a crisp, engaging 10 or 12 inches the Benchwarmer column, written by the father held an uncommon reverence. Over in the space of a few minutes. Better yet, he earthy and wise Bob Burnes; and Dear Abby, the years, my father got to know several of could show you how you could do it. whose advice to parents helped me keep one the Post-Dispatch lions, as did my mother, Then there was the quiet, unassuming step ahead of my own. who for many years worked in public fellow a few desks away who rarely seemed When I shared this point of view with my relations for Famous-Barr. My mother would to smile. Yet somehow, he was the one we father, he looked at me dolefully, wondering, have the P-D luminaries over for dinner and always wanted to please. His name was Jim perhaps, if he had sired an idiot. cocktails or at times build special events Millstone. He was kind and did not express this for Famous-Barr around their work. Among In the 1960s, he was the man who sentiment aloud. Rather, he explained to me them were the likes of Dick Dudman, the covered the Supreme Court and the civil that the Post-Dispatch, the afternoon paper, intrepid Washington bureau chief and rights struggle for the Post-Dispatch. Haynes the one with the longer stories, the more foreign correspondent; Bill Woo, then an Johnson, the former Washington Post elegant headlines, and the serious mien, elegant feature writer; Sally Bixby Defty, correspondent, who won a Pulitzer for his was the quality product. Someday I would the effervescent reporter about town; and coverage of the freedom marches in Selma, understand that. Dick Weil, who was then a most provocative Ala., in 1966, said the prize should have been But my father wouldn’t wait for someday. political correspondent. Millstone’s. 22 Courtesy of Library of Congress

Millstone had risen to the rank of “shareholder value.” But as you might imagine, most days at assistant managing editor. He was also the All media, of course, have had to address the P-D are not soaked with celebration and senior editor who stayed at work the latest, this tension between being businesslike and champagne. They are all about perseverance. reading all the important stories and making living up to the highest journalistic values. But I think Dick Weil best captured who we are sure they were played appropriately. at this paper, I’d like to believe, the angst was and who we continue to be in remarks that He was, in short, our sun god. He was our more palpable. Our founder was a courageous he made upon his retirement 15 years ago. It tie to Pulitzer’s past and he was beaming a and irascible man who set the template for may well resonate for you in another way. light down the path to our futures, because American newspapering much in the same way “We are a lot like hockey players,” he he was nothing if not a great teacher. that Mark Twain did for the American novel. suggested. “We are ever willing to go into Jim died in 1992, leaving us at a His son Joseph II led this newspaper to an the corners, take our licks, get our noses transitional time in journalism — both for the eminence on the national stage far beyond what bloodied and our teeth broken, all for the Post-Dispatch and newspapers nationwide. our city’s importance then would suggest. His sake of getting the story.” There is honor in The Post-Dispatch, fending off a takeover, had grandson had the foresight to take the company that, if not always victory and a trophy. taken the company public in 1986. The Internet into the new medium of television. That passion, I think, is peculiarly was peeking over the horizon; so was the so- All of them had to come to terms with Pulitzer. It’s a striving to live up to the highest called 24-hour news cycle. The platform with the family legacy and changing times. Even standards, and the pride of working for an its call to “always fight for progress and reform, in the midst of so much upheaval, so many institution where those standards were set never tolerate injustice or corruption, always staff cuts, I hope you noticed that the Post- and continue to endure. fight demagogues of all parties, and always Dispatch has won two Pulitzer Prizes in the Not everyone gets such an opportunity. oppose privileged classes” was joined by a last few years, the latest based on the great Those of us who worked for the Pulitzers series of mission statements that addressed work of Tony Messenger. have been lucky indeed. 23 When should justice be outside public view? by William H. Freivogel

A St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter listens Circuit Court is Christine Bertelson, former Post-Dispatch lawyers. through a closed courthouse door and Editorial Editor of the Post-Dispatch. Bertelson’s First Amendment experts familiar with tweets what he hears. The judge finds the criticism of Currier drew the attention of the the case say the judge’s failure to give the eavesdropping reporter in contempt and Post-Dispatch’s storied columnist Bill McClellan, paper’s lawyers a chance to make their legal orders him to write letters of apology. He who suggested in his gentle but unmistakable case could be a deficiency in the judge’s is also to “participate in an educational way in a Sunday column Bertelson and the handling of the case. program with court staff” on the First judge who found Currier in contempt, Ellen Court proceedings are presumptively Amendment and right to a fair trial. Ribaudo, were “being self-important.” open both under U.S. and Missouri Supreme The case file disappears from Missouri’s Ribaudo had said Currier proved Court decisions. electronic case filing system only to reappear untrustworthy. “Trust takes years to build, In a 2001 case brought by the Post- after the newspaper and prosecutor discover seconds to break, and forever to repair.” Dispatch, the Missouri Supreme Court wrote it missing. A court spokeswoman, herself McClellan turned the tables on the quote. The the presumption of openness was based the former Post-Dispatch editorial editor, judge “was referring to pushy reporters,” wrote on the longstanding belief, “Justice is best issues a statement on the contempt case McClellan, “but she could have been talking served when it is done within full view of that rankles her former colleagues who call about courts that prefer to operate behind those to whom all courts are ultimately it sanctimonious. The Post-Dispatch editor closed doors. What we can’t see, we don’t trust.” responsible — the public.” angrily points out the court file would still be Ribaudo asked Currier during the April 12 missing but for the newspaper’s work and No Post-Dispatch lawyers present hearing to come up with an alternative way adds “matters that should be conducted in The dispute began April 12 when Ribaudo to protect the confidentiality of psychiatric open court … are not.” closed her courtroom during a hearing evaluations performed for the competency This may sound a little like a scene from on whether Antonio Taylor was mentally hearing. When he didn’t come up with one, The Front Page, but it is a modern story that competent to stand trial. Taylor was charged Ribaudo closed the hearing and told him to pits a free press and open justice against with shooting Ballwin Officer Michael leave. privacy and the right to a fair trial. Flamion in 2016, leaving him paralyzed from Ribaudo relied on a Missouri law that The hard-charging reporter who the neck down. requires psychiatric evaluations for competency eavesdropped and tweeted is Joel Currier, who Shortly before the hearing, the public hearings to be confidential. However, Ribaudo has been covering law enforcement and the defender asked it be closed. Currier objected critics point out the law does not require the courts for the paper since 2005. The director of and Ribaudo allowed him to speak. But she hearings to be confidential – just the reports. Strategic Communications for St. Louis County rejected his argument without hearing from Court regulars say that competency hearings in 24 me. I don’t understand why that happens and am trying to figure that out. I’m trying to get an answer so that I am in the position to explain it. I don’t know who makes those decisions, if it is a judge or a clerk.” In the Taylor case it was a clerk who had mistakenly taken down the files. In emails to Bertelson, Currier identified other cases that have disappeared from public view, including that of Robert E. Britt, a retired county counselor, who was declared incompetent to stand trial for killing his wife of 54 years, Georgia. The file of Haven Sooter also disappeared from Case.net, Currier’s email said. Sooter was recently found competent to stand trial in the death of Kathleen “Kay” Koutroubis, an innocent victim of a 2016 drag racing accident on Lindbergh Blvd. in Frontenac. Sooter’s file reappeared on Case.net several days later. Bertelson said she knows from her days as a reporter the journalists and judges see their jobs much differently. “I remember trying to read documents upside down on a desk,” she said. “But the court has a different mission. It has rules it must abide by. Reporters want to get the story by hook or crook and get it first. Rules are made to be bent. Reporters aren’t particularly rule followers. Judges tend to be … . It is important to communicate across disciplines … . It’s clear to me that Joel crossed the line and knew he did and did it St. Louis city courts and federal courts often actions, the court order finding the defendant because he is pissed off that the court has are open. incompetent to stand trial and the entire case been secretive.” Currier left the hearing on Ribaudo’s file was closed to the public. It was made Publisher’s note: This reporter has multiple instruction but listened at the door and started public only after disclosure by the prosecuting conflicts of interest on this story. Currier and tweeting. His first tweet, which still is posted, attorney and reported in the Post-Dispatch.” I are teammates on Media Circus, the former announced the closure and acknowledged his Bertelson said in a telephone interview her Post-Dispatch softball team. I spent a night in “very unlawyerly” argument to the judge. press release was merely intended to report the emergency room with him when he broke Currier followed that with about 10 more news, not stir the waters. his nose going out from short to catch a fly ball. tweets, now deleted, including the one Bertelson “To my mind this is news. A reporter being Bertelson was my boss on the editorial quoted in her press release in June. That one said, found in contempt doesn’t happen every day. I page. I was her deputy for nine years. “After Judge Nellie Ribaudo closed courtroom don’t think i was throwing gasoline on the fire. And, 46 years ago I eavesdropped at the to the public — i.e. one lone reporter — I spent I was being very measured and quoting from door of a court-ordered negotiating session most of the afternoon with my ear to the door the decision. Judge Ribaudo said from the during St. Louis’ first teachers strike. St. Louis’ live tweeting details. (Glamorous life of a print beginning, ‘I’m not mad at Joel. I want this to blue-ribbon School Board had refused to make journalist.) Wouldn’t have bothered tweeting had I be an opportunity for education – a teachable settlement offers because the strike was illegal. been allowed to stay. #democracy.” moment … .’” Judge Thomas F. McGuire ordered the board Ribaudo moved to hold Currier in “indirect and union to negotiate with mediators. criminal contempt.” Ribaudo brought Currier Missing files The setting was the old Jefferson Hotel. All into court May 9 to discuss the contempt case. On May 21, as the contempt issue was of the reporters were removed from the meeting. The Post-Dispatch thought the issue was being playing out, Ribaudo finalized her determination I stood at the closed door and took notes on resolved in discussions between the court and Taylor was not fit to stand trial and she officially everything I heard. I had a nice front page story the Joseph E. Martineau of Lewis Rice. Currier and committed him for six months. But none of that next day quoting the negotiators saying the School the paper apologized for the eavesdropping and information was made public and the entire case Board’s proposals were “straight out of the 19th what had started as a criminal contempt became file disappeared from Case.net. It reappeared century.” a civil contempt agreement. Then came a June 4 after the prosecutor commented and the Post- McGuire called me into his chambers after the press statement that Bertelson posted on social Dispatch reported on the judge’s action and story ran and asked how I had gotten the quotes. media, angering the Post-Dispatch editors. missing file. I told him. He laughed and was generally pleased Post-Dispatch editor Gilbert Bailon’s pique at Bertelson said in the interview Bailon was the School Board’s old-fashioned ways had been Bertelson’s statement was evident in a statement not correct in saying it was the newspaper story called out on page one. he released, in turn, to the Riverfront Times. that resulted in the file being made public again. No contempt of court for me or letters of “The quality of Joel’s reporting and ethics are Bertelson said when Ribaudo learned that the apology. The editors were pleased with my beyond question. On this occasion, he was wrong clerk had taken down the file, she ordered the aggressiveness. I got a pat on the back. Those and he admitted he was wrong, submitting a letter public portions restored. The court has asked were the days before newspapers had ethics of apology to the court long before any order that the Post-Dispatch for a clarification of Bailon’s policies and before reporters could tweet he do so. comment. themselves into trouble instantaneously. “His error was borne of frustration by But Bertelson acknowledged in the interview A lawyer friend of mine reminded me occasions reported in this newspaper and the the court is still looking into why other cases Monday if reporters want to hold public officials Riverfront Times, where matters that should involving competency determinations also have accountable, we need be accountable ourselves be conducted in open court and records that disappeared from Case.net. and cut out roguish behavior. I basically agree but should be publicly available are not. In fact, “That is something that Joel has been can’t help but notice that media credibility was far in the very same case that prompted Joel’s concerned about for a long time that predates higher half a century ago than today. 25 Readers want good visuals, but newsrooms keep laying off photojournalists who can deliver them by Jackie Spinner

As a young photojournalist just a few also are better prepared in many ways for years out of college, Jason Howell was finally parts of the industry that are experiencing settling down. He had a full-time staff job growth, particularly the digital-native news at the Journal Gazette and Times-Courier in sector, which saw newsroom employees eastern Illinois and had just signed a year- increased by 79%, from about 7,400 workers to long lease on an apartment in Charleston. about 13,000 in 2017, according to Pew. And As the only staff photographer at a paper yet photojournalism hires are often the first to that dates back to 1860, he was capturing go when a legacy newsroom manager looks the bread-and-butter images of a small around and tries to determine what readers community: a new daycare center, a career won’t miss. (Copy editors are a close second). conference for 8th graders and a building fire. We have to stop looking at photojournalism Howell, a 2017 college graduate who that way. worked for his student newspaper at Eastern “Anyone like me with decades of experience Illinois University, was on the job for 56 days has heard the same tired arguments against when he was laid off in May in a round of cuts supporting or investing in photojournalism; we that also eliminated two copy editor positions don’t have the time, we don’t have the space, at the Lee Enterprises owned-paper. we don’t have the resources, on and on,” said In an industry that continues to retract, Zajakowski who is now the marketing manager with newsroom employment dropping nearly and multimedia producer for the Grant Park by a quarter in the last decade, according to Photo courtesy of Jason Howell Music Festival in Chicago. Pew Research Center, photojournalists are Jason Howell There are exceptions, of course. Two often the first to go. It’s not only newer hires places where Zajakowski worked, The Times like Powell. The State Journal-Register in are producing multimedia graduates who can of Northwest Indiana and the Chicago Illinois, which is owned by Gatehouse Media, do a little of everything, including snapping a Tribune, made strong commitments to visual laid off its photo editor on May 1. Rich Saal quick photo at a protest or a fire. The Internet journalism, he said. had been at the paper for 33 years, most of has both given and taken, raising the profile of “It was not always easy though, at the them as photo editor. It’s also not just smaller visual journalism and also diluting its value. Tribune, to see that commitment on every papers. Both the Chicago Sun-Times (in 2013) The same can be said for technology’s impact, story every day,” Zajakowski added. and the New York Daily News (2018) laid off making it easier to produce quality images The New York Times, The Washington their entire photo staffs in one swoop. without investing in expensive equipment or Post, San Francisco Chronicle and National The layoffs are part of a disturbing trend the person who knows how to use it. Geographic also have continued investing that simply could not be happening at a As an industry, we attract and recruit in visual journalism when others have worse time in a post-truth society quick to writers who can also shoot, but we don’t do stopped. In fact, The New York Times made label news as “fake” when it doesn’t align the same for our visual journalists. visual journalism its number one priority in with previously held beliefs. In that world, I reached out to Lee’s Central Illinois editor, 2017 and although the media heavyweight photojournalism, following a set or principles who declined to comment and referred me is bigger and financially stronger, there are and produced under a generally accepted to Randy C. Mitchell, publisher of the Journal compelling arguments in its 2020 report for code of ethics, provides an often irrefutable Gazette & Times-Courier. I told him I wanted smaller news organizations as well. take. In other words, it is a first-hand to talk about the role of photojournalism at “The most poorly read stories, it witness. Getting rid of visual journalists also the paper. He also declined to comment. discounts the role visual journalism plays in “I have no comment and will not respond turns out, are often the most ‘dutiful’ — attracting and keeping readers and viewers. to employee related issues,” he wrote in an incremental pieces, typically with minimal As a 2015 study from the National Press email. added context, without visuals and largely Photographers Association found readers Every few years, it seems, I sit down to undifferentiated from the competition,” actually want good photojournalism, not just write about the future of photojournalism. the report noted. “They frequently do not any kind of video or picture. It’s almost always spurred by yet another clear the bar of journalism worth paying for, “Many, or most, legacy publications round of layoffs. I first wrote about the because similar versions are available free continued to limp along, fumbling with this issue for American Journalism Review in elsewhere. Our journalism must change to golden egg of a visual staff dedicated to the 2013 when the Sun-Times laid off its staff, match, and anticipate, the habits, needs and idea of communicating with the audience including a Pulitzer Prize winner. The story, desires of our readers, present and future. on a very basic human level,” said Mike headlined “Identity Crisis in Photojournalism,” We need a report that even more people Zajakowski, a former picture editor for The published just as I was helping Columbia consider an indispensable destination, Chicago Tribune who was laid off in 2018. College start a new photojournalism major worthy of their time every day and of their “Worse, it has not been uncommon for that heavily emphasizes documentary video subscription dollars.” the talents of the visual staff to be used and immersive skills like AR and VR. (AJR has As for Howell, he’s now back in Peoria, ineffectively, chasing the small stuff while since closed, but the major now has dozens of with a new job he started in July as a rebuffing photographer’s pleading to engage students). Our photojournalism major attracts web producer for the local ABC and NBC in more meaningful storytelling and begging students who want to report visually, to hold affiliates. for equal status and pay in the newsroom.” officials accountable visually, who want to be “The print journalism job market around Part of the problem is Instagram has on the front lines of history. Their strength may here is atrocious,” he said. “I’m keeping my made quasi-visual storytellers of anyone with be telling stories visually, but their skills are just options open, something that will let me a mobile device, and journalism programs as valuable to a newsroom as our students report the news or allow me some creativity (mine at Columbia College Chicago included) who write feature-length stories. The students in photography and video.” 26 Campaign to save student newsrooms shifts gears from finances to censorship by Abel Rodriguez

In the year since the Florida Alligator issued a call to action to save college newspapers around the country, hundreds of student- run publications signed on to raise awareness about the financial cuts that threaten to shutter or significantly reduce their presence at their institutions. The campaign received national publicity in its first days and months, with stories on CNNand in The Nation. It is no longer getting the same level of attention, but organizers said they are still having an impact, particularly as the effort shifts its focus toward censorship. “Censorship is an issue that happens often and goes mostly unnoticed, especially on the university level,” said Sam Ogozalek, editor-in- chief of the Daily Orange at Syracuse University and one of the campaign’s current organizers. “I think that is why it is important that the campaign Photo by Alan Alvarez of The Alligator. sheds light on the issue and The Alligator staff. also tries to combat it.” The initial campaign and its student newsrooms face but At Wesleyan University campaign are looking at ways hashtag #savestudentnewsrooms also threat of censorship from in Connecticut, the student to mobilize members of the created a flurry of tweets from school administration. government voted to cut the group for large scale protests students and various school news College Media Association, paper’s funding after it published at universities. Ogozalek said organizations calling attention a group for collegiate media a student opinion questioning there is also an emphasizes for to the role and importance of advisors, has helped guide the legitimacy of the Black Lives students to share the campaign student publications. student publications though Matter movement. The student and their work via social media. In recent months, student the legal framework in cases government at the University By sharing student work, she journalists have used the of censorship. CMA President of Kansas also voted to cut the hopes the public will realize that hashtag to highlight battles at Chris Evans, an advisor at the paper’s funding, a move backed by student journalism is no different their institutions, including at University of Vermont, said the administration. Student editors than professional journalism and the University of Arizona. It’s issues involving censorship at the University DailyKansan said therefore should not be censored also been a way for former happen “more often than we it was in retaliation for unfavorable by school administrators. They students to reminisce. would like.” This past year there coverage, and the paper sued. will also persuade affiliated A joint report by the have been several high-profile The lawsuit was later dismissed universities to publish editorials American Association of cases of censorship at some after the two sides reached informing readers about the issue University Professors and the of the nations most recognized an agreement. (The student of censorship. College Media Association schools such as Wesleyan government had reversed its The current student leaders reported that a lack of funding University and the University of decision the following semester). of the alliance are from Syracuse is not the only threat that Kansas, he said. To stop censorship on the University, University of North university level, “administrators Florida and Ohio University. need to value journalism as a skill, Alan Perez, editor-in-chief (and) understand that college of The Daily Northwestern There is a big need to newspapers are not meant to a PR at Northwestern University, arm of the university,” Evans said. wants to use the popularity and diversity our ranks, it is But, he added, “students need to momentum of the campaign “our responsibility as a be assertive and forward thinking to encourage students of color as well. and monitories to take up large student publication In a bid to crack down journalism. on abusive administrators “There is a big need to to diversify.” who seek to stifle student diversity our ranks, it is our publication, leaders of the responsibility as a large student — Alan Perez #SaveStudentNewsrooms publication to diversify,” he said. 27 Photo by June Stricker/Hanson Professional Services Inc via Flickr Creative Commons.

Rep. Rodney Davis campaigning.

Rodney Davis volunteer poses as student journalist in opponent’s press conference by Brian Muñoz

A top Republican campaign operative candidate’s husband and his involvement her husband. supporting Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., posed with political action committees. “It’s 2019 and I think it’s time for women as a reporter for a college newspaper during “What’s to stop a corporate lobbyist, to be judged on our own and not by our a press conference in July in an attempt to a … a corporate pac, like your husband, a husband’s careers,” Dirksen Londrigan said. embarrass Davis’ Democratic opponent. corporate lobbyist at McGuireWoods, from Mark Maxwell, the WCIA reporter who Miranda Lintzenich, the editor-in-chief funneling money to the DCCC (Democratic broke the story, confronted Klitzing about at The Alestle — SIU Edwardsville’s student Congressional Campaign Committee), which the impersonation and said he confessed to newspaper, said she was concerned when you then benefit from?” Klitzing asks. doing the entire thing. she learned the Davis volunteer posed as a Dirksen Londrigan rejects the claims, in “I was willing to help. I’m just a volunteer,” student journalist from the publication she a portion of the phone call released by WCIA Klitzing told Maxwell. manages in order to attack Betsy Dirksen and says she is running for Congress — not Kyyulitzing told WCIA he did not act Londrigan during the press conference. Nick Klitzing, who has deep roots in the Illinois Republic Party, used a fake name when he claimed to work at the publication We at The Alestle pride ourselves on during the press call with Londrigan, WCIA making sure the stories we are writing — an ABC affiliate in Springfield, Illinois, reported. “don’t fit our own personal politics, but “This is Jim Sherman from The Alestle, the newspaper at SIUE,” Klitzing says as he simply tell the truth.” signs on to the call with Dirksen Londrigan. He later asks pointed questions about the — Miranda Lintzenich 28 alone and he was asked to make the call and abilities. interject with questions. He said it was his “This is on both campaigns and has idea to offer up a fake name. nothing whatsoever to do with The Alestle,” Klitzing also defended crashing Dirksen Merrett said. Londrigan’s press call, telling WCIA reporters When interviewed by NPR Illinois’ Sam “it happens all the time.” Dunklau, Dirksen Londrigran was asked if Davis previously held the same role as her campaign would revisit how it screens Nick Klitzing, serving as Executive Director reporters for news conferences, she of the Illinois Republican Party in 2011. Davis’ previous campaign manager also took reportedly laughed and said it would be a over for Klitzing as Executive Director of the “good idea.” Illinois Republican Party in 2017and Klitzing Dirksen Londrigan is again challenging has previously donated to Davis’ campaign. Davis for the seat in Illinois’ 13th When interviewed by the station, Matt congressional district, which Davis won with Butcher, Davis’ campaign manager, denied less than one percent in 2018. The 13th knowing about the phone call. district stretches from the St. Louis Metro- “WCIA gave Butcher another 24 hours East through sprawling farmland and into the to explain how an unpaid volunteer living in college towns of Champaign and Normal. Chicago could have possibly been aware of “Dirksen Londrigan, who prevailed in a a closed press call happening downstate crowded 2018 Democratic primary field, and how that volunteer might have known was a first-time candidate in 2018 and made to parrot Congressman Davis’ talking health care a priority on the campaign trail,” points,” the station reports. “Yet, Butcher still the New York Times reported. declined comment.” After multiple phone calls and emails, Photo by courtesy of The State Journal-Register “She said her son became gravely ill after a tick bite but recovered because her family neither Davis, nor his press secretary, Ashley Nick Klitzing Phelps, responded to a request from GJR for had good health care,” according to The Times. “She said she was motivated to run in commentary on the incident. these should be taken very seriously.” “Once more, Rodney Davis proves his Lintzenich said she learned about the part by the efforts of Republicans, including calls for civility are empty with his campaign incident when WCIA’s Maxwell called and Mr. Davis, to repeal the Affordable Care Act.” again caught engaging in desperate, started asking questions that led her to This is not the first time Davis’ campaign underhanded tactics.” said Jacob Plotnick, believe this was a personnel issue. She said has been in hot water. Levi Lovell, Davis’ field Dirksen Longridan campaign manager. “It’s she was “caught off guard.” director, was caught on camera harassing not surprising that the Davis campaign is “The incident of the impersonator attendees at a 2018 Dirksen Londrigan resorting to dirty tricks.” pretending to be an Alestle reporter was not campaign event. Klitzing served as a policy director for mentioned until after the initial questioning,” Lovell was arrested and charged with former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s first campaign, according to The Alestle’s statement. aggravated battery. He eventually pleaded deputy campaign manager for Rauner’s Chris Evans, the president of the College second campaign and executive director of guilty. Davis later denied sending Lovell to Media Association and the Assistant the Illinois GOP during the years in between the campaign event. Director for Student Media University of gubernatorial races. Editorial notes: Brian Munoz is a former Vermont Burlington, says he has not been Additionally, Klitzing held positions as editor-in-chief of the Daily Egyptian at aware of a case like this happening before. the Assistant State’s Attorney in downstate Southern Illinois University Carbondale. “College newspapers work under the St. Clair County and served as a law clerk Tammy Merrett serves on the board of same rules as professional media and this under Justice Lloyd Karmeier of the Illinois advisers for the Gateway Journalism Review. Supreme Court. is something that could happen to any He is now a “public affairs, communications newspaper – whether they’re student or and government relations professional,” professional,” Evans said. according to his LinkedIn profile. Evans said this seems to be an isolated College In a statement The Alestle’s Lintzenich incident and has not seen a national trend said reporters at the publication are trained of occurrences such as this one happening newspapers on how to speak with public officials “in a but believes instances of impersonation can affect the credibility of a news organization. “ courteous and respectful manner.” work under the “When we approach those we are Tammy Merrett, faculty adviser at The about to interview, we make sure to remain Alestle, shared similar sentiments with same rules as objective and ask questions that are truth- Evans in that a situation such as this one seeking, not agenda-setting,” Lintzenich which could negatively impact the credibility professional said. “We at The Alestle pride ourselves on of the news organization. making sure the stories we are writing don’t Merrett said this was not the first time media and this is fit our own personal politics, but simply tell someone has impersonated to be a reporter something that the truth.” from the publication and has no idea why Lintzenich said doesn’t understand why The Alestle was targeted. could happen to Klizting chose to pose as a journalist with “We do not condone or train our reporters the student publication but believes it has to interview in the way the Davis operative any newspaper – to do with a collegiate news organization did — which was not really interviewing at having yearly turnover with students all. If someone on The Alestle staff were to whether they’re graduating. do such a thing, they would be dismissed “If someone in a political party feels they immediately,” Merrett said. student or have the freedom to impersonate a student Merrett said the Dirksen Londrigan reporter, who draws the line next?” Lintzenich campaign also bears responsibility in professional” said. “Student media is just as important as which it did not vet the credentials of those the next larger publication and situations like participating in the call to the best of their — Chris Evans 29 Assange indictment bigger threat than the secrets he leaked by William H. Freivogel

The indictment of Julian Assange for As free speech expert Eugene Volokh leaking national security secrets poses a put it: “Journalists and other speakers serious challenge to the First Amendment’s don’t have the right to help others protection of the right of the press to publish break into offices, safes, or computers, stories on the most important of news even when the break-in would help events. reveal important information. And as a Assange is the first self-styled journalist practical matter, I suspect that very few to be charged with violating the century-old reporters actively help their sources crack Espionage Act, an overbroad law passed in passwords … just as very few reporters the midst of World War I hysteria. The law provide sources with lock picks or makes it a crime to disclose any secret that instructions on breaking into safes.” might help an enemy – even if that secret is But the superseding indictment against as benign as how much corn is being raised Assange went much further charging in Iowa. Assange with espionage for doing things

Journalists and other speakers don’t have the right to help others break “into offices, safes, or computers, even when the break-in would help reveal important information.” — Eugene Volokh

The indictment breaks the important some of America’s best reporters have done norm under which leakers of government for decades – receiving national security secrets are prosecuted for espionage, but secrets and publishing important ones that the journalists who receive those secrets don’t pose imminent damage to national and publish them are not prosecuted. security or individual intelligence agents. So, for example, Daniel Ellsberg was Counts 15-17 of the indictment state: prosecuted for espionage for leaking the “From in or about July 2010 …, [Assange], secret history of the Vietnam War, but Neil having unauthorized possession of, access person wiretapped a teachers union Sheehan, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger and the to, and control over documents relating president in Pennsylvania saying that if the New York Times were not. Edward Snowden to the national defense [such as leaked school board didn’t agree to higher wages would be prosecuted for espionage if he Afghanistan and Iraq war activity reports the union would have to “Blow off their front came back to the United States to take and State Department cables], willfully porches.” The wiretapped conversation was responsibility for his conduct. But Glenn and unlawfully caused and attempted to provided to talk show host Frederick Vopper, Greenwald and the Guardian were not cause such materials to be communicated, who broadcast it on his radio show. The prosecuted for printing his leaks about delivered, and transmitted to persons not Supreme Court ruled that as long as Vopper the NSA’s vast collection of Americans’ entitled to receive them.” and the radio station were not involved in telephone data. “Persons not entitled to receive them” – the illegal wiretap, the First Amendment The espionage indictment was much that’s the American people. Essentially the protected their right to broadcast. more alarming than the initial indictment Trump administration is saying the American The Trump administration argues against Assange charging himwith helping people didn’t have the right to know that Bartnicki doesn’t apply to national security Chelsea Manning hack the WikiLeaks three American presidents lied to them about secrets. It has a decent argument. There secrets. Vietnam or that the NSA was collecting vast is even language in the generally pro- There is not much question but that amounts of data about Americans’ calls. press Pentagon Papers decision where journalists can be charged for hacking or Reporters often publish information two justices said that even though the helping to hack computers – just as they can they know was illegally leaked to them. The government couldn’t stop the publication of be charged with any other crime they engage Supreme Court has even upheld this activity the secrets that did “not mean that it could in to get a story – stealing, trespassing, in a case that didn’t involve national security. not successfully proceed in another way” – wiretapping. In Bartnicki v. Vopper, an unknown in other words under the Espionage Act.

30 Assange himself is the worst possible organizations print national security secrets journalists from criminal prosecution under test case for the press. to give readers the knowledge to make good the Espionage Act. Some scholars called it For one thing, many journalists and decisions as citizens, Assange has made an era of “benign indeterminacy” where the legal experts say he is not really a journalist no secret that he hates the United States. journalists could claim that 102 years of or publisher. Journalists on the New York His involvement in hacking Hillary Clinton uncertainty was a good reason not to charge Times or Washington Post vet the national and DNC emails was a key part of a Russian a journalist with espionage. security secrets they report and check with disinformation campaign to disrupt the 2016 Julian Assange’s excesses together with the government on possible harm to national presidential election. It’s no coincidence the Trump administration’s hostility to the press security and intelligence methods. Assange Assange has never been able to find anything have brought an abrupt end to that remarkable generally does not. negative to report about Vladimir Putin. era during which the disclosure of national Two notable free press lawyers who Assange’s antipathy toward the United security secrets altered Americans’ views of represented the New York Times in the States has legal significance. Because the the Vietnam War and led to reforms in the way Pentagon Papers case – James Goodale Espionage Act is written so broadly, courts and Floyd Abrams – disagree about whether have said that criminal convictions must Americans’ private data were collected. Assange is a journalist. Goodale says include proof of “specific intent” to harm No other nation provides as much Assange stands in the shoes of publishers the United States. That did not exist in constitutional protection for the press to like Sulzberger. But Abrams says he doesn’t prior cases, but Assange’s statements and publish information the government tries because he does no real reporting, is careless activities may provide the proof necessary to to keep from the people. It is important in his disclosure of secrets and has an convict him. that reporters continue to have the First avowed goal of harming the United States. Before the Assange indictment, a century Amendment protection to inform the public While most leakers and news of prosecutorial practice had protected on important matters of national security.

31 Mental hazards of reporting not just danger for war correspondents by Bob Chiarito

After covering shootings several days Over the last few years journalism has in a row, Chicago freelancer Evan Moore come a long way in addressing mental health had to report from a press conference that issues resulting from having to cover more featured mothers of gun violence victims. It mass shootings and the seemingly never- was almost Memorial Day in 2016, and the ending amount of urban gun violence in mothers, now anti-violence advocates, were American cities. Freelancers like Moore still urging people to stop the violence ahead slip between the cracks, whether overseas or of what historically has been a very violent while covering violent domestic stories. But weekend in Chicago, a sort of kickoff to the more journalists are being open about post summer shooting season, where homicides traumatic stress and the impact not only on seem to go up with the temperature. On that their work but also on their personal lives -- day, one of the victim’s mothers recognized and more are getting positive responses. the 1,000-yard stare on Moore’s face. “Baby, “I did a Twitter thread about it earlier this you’ll be okay” she told the 36-year-old year and a lot of people were like ‘Thanks reporter, trying to comfort him. for doing that, I needed to see that.’ A lot of As a freelancer, he did not have medical people said if I need to talk to let them know,” insurance and even if he did, he said he didn’t Moore said. consider talking to anyone at the time. He For decades, groups like the Committee handled it instead the way many reporters to Protect Journalists have offered safety have long handled covering traumatic events classes to journalists, but until the last few — by self-medicating with alcohol. years those classes focused on physical Three years later, Moore now is a full-time safety while covering war and conflict staffer at the Chicago Sun-Times, where he is an overseas. Since around 2016, more and more audience engagement specialist and helps with attention has been focused on dealing with copy editing, has medical insurance and sees a mental hazards of domestic coverage, as therapist, and has moderated his drinking. well as digital security. 32 “We believe you cannot talk about safety without talking about those three things and I often thought about this and thinking of them simultaneously,” said Maria Salazar Ferro, director the Emergencies wondered why more people in the Response Team from the Committee to Protect Journalists. “newsroom didn’t discuss it, but you Columbia University professor Judith Matloff, who spent more than two decades know what a newsroom is like. They reporting in Europe, Africa and Moscow, is a pioneer in safety training for media around develop that dark humor, the sick jokes the world. She works closely with the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, which is and I think we laugh it off.” headquartered at Columbia University in New York and believes taking a three-tiered — Lilia Chacon approach to safety is essential. “If you’re not in an emotionally good place, condition is. In terms of the broader question, their feelings. “The past ways of dealing with you’re more likely to do something dangerous. if you notice your behavior changing, you’re things was usually a bottle or other means. You’re more likely to make a bad decision… becoming more irritable, your sleep is I think today journalists are becoming much It’s not just a mental health issue, it ties into becoming disturbed, your colleagues are more aware of the potential effect and impact everything else.” Matloff said, adding that pointing out to you that you’re not acting of their coverage, particularly coverage of digital safety goes right along with it. yourself, you might be using alcohol to excess trauma and traumatic events. I think in the age Digital safety is ensuring against digital to self-medicate, there are so many changes of more mass tragedies, journalists are being attacks, including through hacking, phishing, in behavior to indicate the journalist has exposed to it more as well.” and surveillance as well as doxing — the developed a particular psychological difficulty PTSD is not the only risk. Internet-based practice of researching and that may be work related,” Feinstein said. “PTSD is the poster-boy, but depression broadcasting private or identifying information Raymond said the story that put her over is more common. Anxiety is more common. (especially personally identifying information) the edge in 2009 was having to interview the Substance abuse is more common, so I think about an individual or organization. brother of a soldier killed in a mass shooting at there needs to be a heightened awareness of “I was one of the first people to do digital Fort Hood in Texas, in which 13 died. Raymond mental health issues in general,” Feinstein said. safety train and it’s critical because it’s tied into believes her PTSD was the result of years of Because news organizations have had the mental and physical as well,” Matloff said. For covering violence like this. After Fort Hood, to cut staff, fewer reporters are left to cover example, doxing is when someone takes your she took 2 1/2 months of disability leave and breaking news that is often about violence. personal information and posts it publicly. This although she told her bosses about her issues That means the same pool of reporters end up happens a lot to women. They get death threats at the time, she returned to work. And while getting repeatedly exposed. or rape threats and somebody who wants to she did get off the station’s morning shift “I think preparation is important. If you’re harm them will post their phone number, email, or which often focused on violence from the going to be covering a difficult assignment, physical address on a public forum or on social be aware that you may have an emotional media,” she said, explaining the how digital safety early morning hours, and continued to see a response and be aware that it’s totally normal,” can threaten both mental and physical safety. therapist, she also continued to work general Matloff said. “People have to take good care “They are all tied into each other.” assignment, which often included stories of themselves. Eat good, nutritious meals, In June, WGN-TV reporter Marcella about violence. try to get on a regular sleep schedule. In our Raymond publicly disclosed on Facebook In the decade since then, the violence in profession we head for the bottle and that’s that she was diagnosed with PTSD, or post- Chicago and beyond hasn’t let up, adding to the worst thing to do. Moderate that, get traumatic-stress-disorder, from covering a problem Raymond thought she adequately exercise to work the emotional toxins out of violence and crime both in Chicago and on addressed. Then on June 16, Father’s Day, the body. Spend some time in nature.” national stories. She’s been covering news Raymond had to knock on the door of a for more than 20 years and was recently Chicago firefighter whose son was stabbed Lilia Chacon, a former broadcast reporter diagnosed with PTSD for the second time. to death and had his car set on fire. The who worked in Albuquerque and Chicago for The first time was in 2009. In the post she mother of a 18-year-old son herself, that story more than 25 years, identified with Raymond’s writes “My “problem” is I get too involved in my set Raymond over the edge again, and she recent public account. She said spending time stories. I want to do justice to every innocent says this time it was worse for her than in in nature is her healthy outlet. “I covered a person who’s been shot and killed, to every 2009. She is now seeing a different therapist lot of the worst of the worst,” she said. “ We person killed in a fire, to every person killed who specializes in PTSD and her station has all have our coping strategies…I really found in a car crash or walking across the street or allowed her to focus on more feature stories solace in bird watching, long hikes, hard standing at a bus stop or on the EL. That’s why rather than stories that may be triggering. workouts, heart to heart talks with friends I do it; to let the family know I care, to tell their Raymond’s courage in recently going public although friends usually don’t want to hear story more than about just the horrible death has been met with messages of support, this kind of stuff, but sometimes you have to of their child. I can’t be a bystander looking in. with many fellow reporters sharing with her unburden yourself. And I also kept a diary for I have to jump in with my whole body. But at their own issues related to their job. As more some of the rougher stuff.” what cost to me?” reporters find the courage to speak out, the Chacon, who currently works as the Journalists who routinely cover traumatic stigma lessens and others will come forward, communications director for the City of Santa incidents need to be aware of the signs that according to Joe Hight, a former reporter who Fe, New Mexico, added “I often thought about indicate that they may be more affected by covered traumatic events in Oklahoma City for this and wondered why more people in the what they cover than they previously thought. years and who is the Edith Kinney Gaylord chair newsroom didn’t discuss it, but you know what “With PTSD, there are clearly defined of journalism ethics at the University of Central a newsroom is like. They develop that dark symptoms and it’s helpful for journalists to Oklahoma and the co-author a 40-page report humor, the sick jokes and I think we laugh it off.” be aware of what they are,” said Anthony for the Dart Center on reporters and PTSD. Aamer Madhani heard a lot of jokes while Feinstein, professor of psychiatry at the “I think it’s becoming more prevalent covering the Iraq war from 2003 to 2008 for University of Toronto who has written as there are more diagnosed for it but also the Chicago Tribune and USA Today. He said extensively about the psychological hazards because there are more journalists coming few people talked about the mental cost of journalists face. “It’s important not to self forward as well,” Hight said, adding that covering conflict. diagnose, but to be familiar of what the typically reporters were reluctant to reveal Continued on next page 33 ... whatever was brought up was brought up in a funny way. They made jest of how they handled their time in these places.” “ — Aamer Madhani

“My bosses never brought it up and a lot of work really matters.” but in March 2019 an Australian court ruled my bosses spent time in conflict zones,” said Journalists may have to cover more in favor of a reporter who sued his employer Madhani, a Chicago-based reporter for USA traumatic events as news organizations because he developed PTSD as a result of Today. “They never brought up their mental continue to shrink, but a common practice being continually exposed to traumatic events health experiences and whatever was brought for most news organizations is to have young as a crime and court reporter. The paper failed up was brought up in a funny way. They made reporters on the police beat, which can be one to take steps to reduce his risk, the court jest of how they handled their time in these of the most traumatic. found. places.” “Most of us who went into journalism, we Salazar Ferro said there are often cultural He recalled how his Chicago Tribune editor covered the police beat as our first role, so issues that make some hesitant to speak up. reacted when the sister of an Iraqi employed you see a lot of young journalists exposed to “In my personal experience working on by his news organization was shot to death. trauma at a very young age and they’re not this, journalists working in certain parts of the The man was like a relative to staffers, and adequately prepared for it,” Hight said. He world are more comfortable talking about this everyone was hit hard by the loss. added that there is a cruel irony in the news than journalists from other parts. In the Middle When he called his boss to tell him what business. “Usually it’s your most sensitive East and North Africa region it’s a lot more had happened, he was reminded that there reporters that you want covering these types complicated to talk about psychological issues was nothing he could do and asked how his of events and those who are most sensitive for a lot of journalists. I’ve definitely also story was coming along. “We need the story,” are going to be most exposed to issues that encountered resistance in the Latin American he remembers being told. “This is a Sunday occur when you’re exposed to everything story. You’re going to have to set aside any that happens when there is a mass tragedy. region.” concerns you have, any anxieties you have Newsrooms and universities must become For Moore, an African-American male, about our guy and work on the story.’” more of aware of what we are sending our speaking out was viewed as something black Madhani said he’s also covered domestic journalists into and how we prepare them for men do not do. stories in the U.S. that rivaled the emotions covering these types of events in the future.” “It’s a thing, particular with men and that were stirred by the combat stories in Iraq, Both journalism advocacy groups and black men, to hold stuff in and not to go see and that he has been able to deal with it by news organizations are now incorporating someone or a therapist…In my community, focusing on the good in people at the worst mental health into safety classes, setting up therapy or counseling was viewed as times. anonymous hotlines and EAPs, and in some something for white people. Honestly that’s “Virginia Tech, that was pretty awful. cases, setting up a buddy-system where bullshit. We are taught to hold things in, to deal Hurricane Harvey and people’s grace in the reporters check on each other. with it,” Moore said. worst moments where there is no reason Danielle Rhoades Ha, spokeswoman for Moore said also did not have medical amongst all the grief and suffering and The New York Times, said the paper takes insurance when he was a freelancer, a physical losses that they may be dealing with, the safety of its reporters seriously. “We have common problem. Salazar Ferro said CPJ is whether it’s losing a loved one or losing a expanded measures to protect our journalists working to address that. home, you have these moments. I also saw against the overall backdrop of increased CPJ’s Gene Roberts Fund for Emergency that in Iraq.” threats and verbal attacks,” she said in an Assistance gives support to journalists in Madhani said he never thought much at the email. distress situations, including emergency time about the impact of covering the stories. Reuters established a full-time head of grants to people who need to seek therapy. He certainly wouldn’t have brought it up with Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy in Matloff said typically journalists don’t his editors. “It wasn’t a tough-guy aspect, it May of 2017. That person, Dean Yates, is a reach out for help because they may not know was more the worry that they wouldn’t send former Reuters bureau chief, manager and they need it, or they are scared of the impact me back. It would be bad for my career if I correspondent who has PTSD and has written on their career. admit any vulnerability,” Madhani said. about being hospitalized three times for it. In years past, the stigma around mental Sometimes journalists in the midst of He told GJR that Reuters has a number of health may very well have been detrimental covering of a traumatic story only start to programs in place to support the mental health to one’s career--just as it has been for experience symptoms after they are out of of it’s 2,500 staff members around the world — soldiers and first-responders. However, many danger or after the story is filed. Like soldiers, including a 24/7 external trauma support and journalists can actually continue working while once they have moved on from the big story, counseling service and preparing journalists dealing with mental health issues. PTSD and that’s when PTSD hits. for emotional and psychological challenges is “One of the things that we found in keeping a major component of its hostile environment depression can be addressed and arrested, people resilient is having a sense of purpose, training courses. Newman said. which certainly journalists do. Their work is so Newman said being proactive just makes “There are incredibly effective treatments important. And having a sense of ethics,” said sense for news organizations. for PTSD. That doesn’t mean that all people Elana Newman, Research Director at the Dart “Providing self-care and management will benefit from all treatments. There are Center for Journalism & Trauma. along the way reduces cost and it also helps some people for whom it last for a long time.” Matloff agreed, saying, “One thing we to reduce absenteeism. Journalists who are Feinstein said the bottom line is that PTSD have found is a reporter who is covering healthy do better work,” she said. is treatable--if journalists seek help and if their tough issues and doesn’t feel supported by Now that more journalism advocacy news organizations support them when they their news organization, that could be a risk groups and media companies are becoming do. factor for more emotional distress…It’s really more aware of mental health hazards, ignoring “There is no danger to treatment,” Feinstein important for the editors tell somebody who reporters may present legal issues down the said. “Not to get treatment is the greater of is having a tough time emotionally that their road. There are no known cases in the U.S., two evils.” 34 Photo by William Greenblatt

Tony Messenger and Yamiche Alcindor share an animated conversation. Messenger, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist who recently won a Pulitzer Prize, received the Freedom Fighter award. Alcindor, PBS’s White House reporter, gave the keynote address.

Gateway Journalism Review awards Freedom Fighter honors by Amelia Blakely

Gateway Journalism Review honored two was going to do,” Messenger said in his St. Louis journalists at its eighth annual First acceptance speech. “Thank goodness the Amendment Celebration on April 25. Missouri Supreme Court ruled this human Tony Messenger, a metro columnist tragedy has got to stop.” for the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and Lauren Trager is the reporter who led the Trager, an investigative reporter for KMOV, investigation and broke the story in January were awarded the Freedom Fighter Award 2018 about former Missouri Governor for their work. Earlier in April Messenger won Eric Greitens’ extramarital affair. The story the Pulitzer Prize for his series of columns on debtors prisons in Missouri. eventually led Greitens to resign. “These people showed tremendous “As a wise person recently said to me, it courage to share their stories with me at is not our job to just cover the news, we must a time in which we didn’t know what the uncover it too. My commitment to that is supreme court was going to do, and we now as steadfast as ever,” Trager said in her didn’t know what the Missouri legislature acceptance speech.

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