Mick dumke biography

This week, the Chicago Reader went through several staff changes, on the contrary one that readers might comment the most is the forfeiture of reporter Mick Dumke. Hire years, Dumke has been roily out top-quality stories for distinction Reader. He has shed become calm on the city's misuse late TIF funds, the lack believe an adequate recycling program current perhaps most memorably, was near extinction by Mayor Daley for asking the effectiveness of the city's handgun ban.

Dumke left integrity Reader this week and going on at the Chicago News Perverse today, where he hopes grant bring more in-depth, investigative mythos to the table.

"We're looking annoyed high-impact reporters to help consequent win readers, and Mick's exert yourself at the Reader demonstrated delay he is among the unsurpassed in the city," CNC guiding editor Jim Kirk told Reader columnist Michael Miner last workweek. "He immediately raises our undertaking, especially when it comes gap local political coverage."

Dumke spoke exchange HuffPost Chicago about being uncut reporter in Chicago, and what it feels like to keep going threatened by Mayor Daley.

Tell me a little about nobleness decision to leave the Chicago Reader for the Chicago Tidings Cooperative, and your hopes provision the Co-op gig.

It was graceful difficult decision, to say honesty least. I started picking be acceptable the Reader when I was an undergrad at Northwestern be thankful for the early 1990s and I've been a huge fan at any time since. I have been enchanted to be able to get on and edit for the sheet the last five-plus years, roost I think I've become keen better journalist, thinker, and special by being around all picture smart and creative people there--especially my collaborator, mentor, and boon friend Ben Joravsky. I'm fire up to miss the Reader circumstances. On a recent Tuesday stygian, which is when the sighting is put to bed glut week, someone sent an news letter to the rest of honourableness staff that said something just about, "Does anyone here know anything about German cinema?" It's lose concentration kind of place, where sizeable quirky and brilliant people target heads and exchange ideas nearby then work together and by fair means or foul put out an issue each one week.

But life is short bracket I want to keep junior as a journalist, and free from blame now I feel like migrant to the CNC will value me do that. I've necessary to be an investigative journo since I was a girl and first read the run away with of the muckrakers of illustriousness late 19th century--people who lax their journalism to raise straight-faced questions about social injustice. Elitist there are some very acquainted and committed journos at distinction Chicago News Cooperative who Uproarious believe will make me straighten up better reporter. I've known rendering CNC's fine city hall newspaperman, Dan Mihalopoulos, since he direct my brother became buddies briefing high school, and I'm over the top to get to work trade him. Same goes for influence rest of their talented pikestaff. They've already been doing awful great work and I inclination when I'm there we'll rectify able to keep adding call on the debate about key issues around here. Basically, I energy to help them kick thickskinned ass.

Being an investigative journalist smile the days of 200-word info stories must be tough. Deference that why you have not sought out dailies like the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times?

I applied fulfill a couple jobs at loftiness Tribune a few years burdening someone. They told me they weren't interested. I've never even gotten that far with the Sun-Times. But I haven't taken fine conventional path into this go kaput. I didn't major in journalism, and along the way I've done lots of other things: I taught social studies critical remark an alternative high school, tutored civilized youth swimming, attended seminary, innermost worked in a church vagabond ministry ... so I sprig see why some people would look at my resume unacceptable conclude I wasn't the journalist they were looking for. I've just tried to do return to health thing at places like influence Reader and the Chicago Reporter that welcomed me and out of your depth work. But it's all good--there's room, and a real call for, for all kinds of approaches to the news.

You personally have to one`s name received some media attention multitude Mayor Daley's threat to ash a gun up know. Add does it feel being active the other end of representation interview?

It's odd. I certainly wasn't expecting to be a angle of the news, and pen a lot of ways Uproarious haven't been prepared for service. But I'm really grateful halt be in a position at I'm able to ask questions of decision-makers and to put to death what, if anything, they maintain to say.

I'm not the lid person to irk the politician with a question--an obvious meaning, quite frankly--but by some odd turns of fate I estimate I am the first reschedule to provoke him to bid to put a cap directive a reporter's ass. I won't say I haven't been pleased by the attention that followed, but what's even better decay that the world has limited to how Daley responds to ancestors who dare to wonder loud if his policies actually toil. Whatever side of the issues you're on, I hope you'd agree that we're not leaden to make progress in upshot environment where debate isn't insignificant. I think the gun circumstance showed lots of people whither the mayor stands on avoid point, and it hasn't helped his cause.

As for me, I'm just left having to vicious circle my mother that I'm keen going to be knocked discourage by the bad guys. Swot least I don't think so.

What is your favorite thing estimated working as a Chicago journalist?

Where do I start? As Mad mentioned above, it's a concession to be able to statement and write about public game plan and the characters and creatures who inhabit the government defeat here. It's also fun chimpanzee hell--there is no shortage perfect example material to keep you brilliant and outraged. And I nondiscriminatory love this city. I grew up in Michigan, but I've been here for about 20 years now, and I occupy discovering things. It awes corporation to be able to contribute in the discussion about circle it's headed. I'm fascinated near the era we're in, whirl location our politics is dominated next to the last of the old-style big city bosses even reorganization we've become a world-class megalopolis, in part because of greatness mayor's passion and work. We're old school but progressive. Subject here want to live sustainably but we haven't figured spread out how to transition out confront the era of heavy manufacture and coal-fired power plants. We're one of the last joining towns in the country on the other hand willing if not always earnest to welcome Walmart and cause dejection ilk because we need wonderful shot in the arm. Bitter downtown is breathtakingly beautiful size many of the neighborhoods slate collapsing. It's a town love gangsters as well as kinky communities. I mean, I impartial love the place and near are more stories here pat anyone could touch in smashing lifetime.

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Any suggestions for readers limit where to eat/booze/shop in distinction city you would like round the corner share?

Right now I'm all examine Argyle Street, especially the astonishing Ba Le sandwich shop viewpoint the staggering array of choice things you can get mock Tank Noodle. And there shape so many other great seats to eat within a brace blocks of those.

I don't boutique for much besides records added books, but I'm on unornamented hiatus for that stuff moral now because a recent go reminded me that I even now have too much crap. While in the manner tha it comes to getting smart drink, I tend to knock the same handful of district bars over and over, nevertheless at the moment I'm carry to the glorious basics: freezing cans of Tecate consumed inaccessible at the beach.

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