A ProPublica Podcast:
The Breakthrough:
How a Small News Outlet Brought Down the State Hero
by Jessica Huseman ProPublica, 11.08.2017 @ 08:00
Too often what is in the public interest gets hijacked by official press releases from the City of Mesa Newsroom, , or an on-call cadre of "contributors" and/or staff writers for corporate-owned media outlets like The East Valley Tribune or The Arizona Republic, or a new outlet published by former CNA Kelly Mixer calling itself MyMesaNews.com, who graduated from a leadership training workshop sponsored by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce that does "unilateral" coverage of what they want [that means 'one-sided'].
In spite of a second-hand telling of a side-remark by Sally Jo Harrison, President/CEO of the Chamber that your MesaZona blogger is "a trouble-maker" and Mesa Mayor John Giles calling yours truly to-his-face "a rabble-rouser", any reasonable person might ask Why?
It is in the public interest to have an option to make you think even in spite of verbal attacks for making trouble or for rousing residents here in Mesa whom the mayor refers to as "Rabble" - the majority of people who have disconnected from civic involvement, dis-enfranchised and un-engaged in what passes as government where few participate in the oversight of those elected and employed inside City Hall.
You can listen to the podcast by hitting this link > https://soundcloud.com/propublica/the-breakthrough-how-a-small-news-outlet-brought-down-the-state-hero
Or take the time to read a transcript
"Bill Stenger was a local hero. One of Vermont’s most important businessmen, he had created hundreds of jobs with mega-developments across the state. In 2011, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce named him “citizen of the year.” And, for years, a sign hung on the door of the City of Newport’s offices that read, “Thank You, Bill Stenger.”
But not all of Stenger’s businesses were what they seemed, a small nonprofit news organization revealed. . . "
Anne Galloway is the founder and editor of VTDigger. When she launched the online outlet in 2009, she was its only employee. Today, she has 11 reporters and an annual budget of $1.3 million. Much of her newsroom’s success has stemmed from its dogged investigation into Stenger, his Miami-based business partner Ariel Quiros and their project, Jay Peak ski resort.
in 2012, it immediately smelled fishy to Galloway . . . and it promised 10,000 jobs.
“It just seemed too good to be true,” she said. “It seemed too big.” She was right.
Galloway and her team dug deep, fought multiple legal battles over records and worked to gain the trust of investors losing confidence in the project. They chronicled complaints that this development was starting to feel like a scam, and reported on the cozy relationship Stenger had with state oversight authorities. . .
Newer projects were left incomplete, and investors were left bilked. Galloway and her team knew about almost all of this — they just couldn’t get anyone to go on the record.Galloway and her team dug deep, fought multiple legal battles over records and worked to gain the trust of investors losing confidence in the project. They chronicled complaints that this development was starting to feel like a scam, and reported on the cozy relationship Stenger had with state oversight authorities. . .
Hear how it all began on The Breakthrough, the ProPublica podcast where investigative reporters reveal how they nailed their biggest stories.
VTDigger.org is an independent, investigative news organization covering Vermont
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