{"id":7451,"date":"2015-04-17T06:00:44","date_gmt":"2015-04-17T11:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=7451"},"modified":"2015-04-17T06:21:10","modified_gmt":"2015-04-17T11:21:10","slug":"rahms-spinmeisters-recommend-a-few-reporters-and-heres-the-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2015\/04\/17\/rahms-spinmeisters-recommend-a-few-reporters-and-heres-the-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Rahm\u2019s spinmeisters recommend \u2018a few reporters\u2019 \u2014 and here\u2019s the list"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mayor<\/a>

<\/a> Mayor Rahm Emanuel<\/p><\/div>\n

Shortly before the Chicago mayoral election, the Columbia Journalism Review<\/a> published a hard-hitting look at Mayor Rahm Emanuel\u2019s rocky relations with the local media.<\/p>\n

Written by Jackie Spinner, the publication\u2019s Chicago correspondent and an assistant journalism professor at Columbia College Chicago, How Chicago\u2019s press corps is dealing with \u2018Washington Rahm<\/em>\u2019 <\/a>recounted four years of conflict with City Hall reporters. Among those quoted about their difficulties covering Emanuel were reporters Mary Ann Ahern, Laura Washington, Brian Slodysko, Ben Joravsky and Carol Marin and photographer Alex Garcia.<\/p>\n

Observing that the mayor maintains \u201ca steely distance from much of the hometown press corps,\u201d Spinner wrote: \u201cHe routinely refuses to take questions at press events, changes his schedule at the last minute, and shows up early before the cameras arrive, reporters who have covered him say. Several of the journalists who have followed him during his first term described the relationship as \u2018contentious\u2019 \u2014 if it can be called a relationship at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the course of reporting the story, Spinner sought comment from Kelley Quinn, the mayor\u2019s communications director. \u201cAfter I described the story I was working on, she emailed a list of reporters she wanted me to make sure I had interviewed,\u201d Spinner wrote in the piece.<\/p>\n

Who were the reporters Emanuel\u2019s office was so eager for the writer to talk to? Spinner\u2019s story never named them. When I asked her for the list, she politely turned me down.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I really thought it would enhance the story, I would have disclosed the names in the CJR article,\u201d Spinner told me. \u201cBut providing a list of recommended sources is an act of manipulation. It was not one I wanted to be a part of. And I didn\u2019t need any help. If I had thought there was a legitimate reason to share the names on the list, I would have done it when I wrote the story in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, I obtained the email correspondence between Spinner and the mayor\u2019s communications staff. On March 18, Quinn wrote to Spinner: \u201cYou should reach out to a few reporters like Jay Levine, Neil Steinberg, Fran, and Craig Dellimore, if you haven\u2019t already.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few minutes later, Spinner responded: \u201cAs you know not everyone will talk in the midst of an ongoing story. But I've got the reporters covered. The piece will be fair. Ask around. I'm know [sic] for being even. I need a statement from you if you have one. Thanks!\u201d<\/p>\n

The four reporters Quinn\u2019s list refers to are:<\/p>\n