Author: Carolyn Bradley

Illinois newspaper’s unique fact-checking initiative

A community newspaper in Forest Park, Illinois, launched a unique fact-checking initiative during the recent midterm election season, inviting readers to send campaign mailers to its journalists to check for accuracy. Readers sent in nine mailers from various groups such as the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce & Development. Many of the mailers were referendums…

Reporter’s interview with Chicago cop accused of murder prompts social media criticism

Christy Gutowski waited three years to speak with the white Chicago police officer accused of gunning down black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014, a killing that exposed the police department’s fraught relationship with the community it is sworn to protect. But when Gutowski, a reporter at the Chicago Tribune, finally landed the scoop, the critical…