Born in 1961 in North Tonawanda, N.Y., near Buffalo, I grew up in Chicago in the 1960s and ‘70s.

I became fascinated with

newspapers while

reading the Chicago

Sun-Times. It was

delivered to our home

every morning.

The 1978 undercover Sun-Times series, “The Mirage,” inspired me to become a reporter.

I liked the idea of being the one person in the room who was responsible for explaining things to everyone else. Or exposing things.

About Me

I joined the student newspaper at Mather High School, the Mather Free Press. I was named sports editor because it looked like nobody else wanted the job.

Standing on the sidelines and taking notes at sports events -- knowing I had to get it right -- felt natural. Even strangely familiar. Almost like I was born to do it.

By the time I graduated from high school in 1979, I knew I wanted to pursue a career as a newspaper reporter.

But I had little idea how to do it.