FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BGA media partners to receive Studs Terkel Awards

March 30, 2006

CONTACT:
Jay Stewart, Executive Director (312) 427-8330
Dan Sprehe, Chief Investigator (312) 427-8330

The Better Government Association (BGA) congratulates two of its media partners slated for honors at the 2006 Studs Terkel Media Awards. WMAQ-TV’s Renee Ferguson and the editorial staff of the Residents’ Journal are being recognized for excellence in reporting on Chicago’s diverse communities.

Ms. Ferguson and the Residents’ Journal staff--Crystal Medina, former staffer Micah Maidenberg, Mary Johns, Ethan Michaeli, Gabriel Piemonte and Beauty Turner—are being honored in part for their work on the Residents’ Journal story “A Questionable Connection.” The BGA is proud to have collaborated with the Residents’ Journal on the story, which outlined a disturbing connection between campaign contributions to the 17th Ward Democratic Committee and Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) contracts.

In an eight-month investigation with the Residents’ Journal, the BGA discovered a dramatic rise in contributions to the 17th Ward Democratic Committee by CHA contractors following former 17th Ward Alderman Terry Peterson’s move to chief executive officer of the CHA. Prior to Peterson’s switch to the CHA, the contractors gave little to 17th Ward politicians. In the four-year period after Peterson became CEO of the CHA, contributions from CHA contractors amounted to more than one-third of the 17th Ward Democratic Committee’s total donations. Approximately $250,000 was given by CHA contractors between 2000 and 2004.

The Residents’ Journal published the story in April of 2005 and it was quickly picked up by other local media. In particular, Renee Ferguson from WMAQ-TV highlighted the findings of the investigation and the work of the Residents’ Journal staff, which compiled and analyzed a multitude of records and interviews collected during the probe.

The BGA is proud to have contributed to the story and looks forward to future endeavors with these distinguished recipients.

The 2006 Terkel Awards will be presented on April 19. Other 2006 honorees include Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown.

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Information about "A Questionable Connection" can be found on the BGA's Investigations page, or the "Residents’ Journal website.