By: Dave Astor Marcus Stern, who started the probe that brought down Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), sees several lessons in the investigation that won a National Reporting Pulitzer for Copley News Service and the Copley-owned San Diego Union- Tribune.
Stern, a reporter and news editor in the CNS Washington bureau, says the Cunningham investigation's success "shows that reporters for regional and mid-sized papers can play a huge role in keeping lawmakers honest. It also shows that bureaus and newspapers can work closely together."
Stern, 52, broke the corruption story, and then other CNS and Union-Tribune reporters joined in the effort. Cunningham ended up resigning from office and plead guilty to accepting more than $2 million in bribes from defense contractors.
CNS Vice President/Editor Glenda Winders says many journalists enter the profession "to rein in the bad guys and make the world a better place," which was what the series did. She adds Stern used public records, not leaks, for the probe.
On May 1, Stern voluntarily stepped down as news editor to focus on reporting at the Washington bureau, which serves the Union-Tribune and other Copley papers.
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