Chuck Neubauer

Neubauer has spent nearly fifty years as an investigative reporter and journalist, reporting on government agencies and covering local and national political figures. He worked as an investigator for the non-profit Better Government Association, while attending Northwestern University; after graduation, he began working as a reporter at Chicago Today (1973–1974).

He left to work for the Chicago Tribune in 1974, spending nine years with the newspaper, until leaving in 1983 for the Chicago Sun-Times (1983–2001). Neubauer worked with the Los Angeles Times (2001–2008), and The Washington Times from April 2009 until 2013.{{cite web|last=Dornic|first=Matt|date=April 8, 2009 |title=Wash Times Lands Chuck Neubauer|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/wash-times-lands-chuck-neubauer_b15578|access-date=2011-12-06|work=Mediabistro.com|publisher=WebMediaBrands}}

In 2006, Neubauer, in answering the question, '"What do you think of the present and future of independent journalism,"' gave some insight into his hope for the future of journalism, in an era of media giants saying:

{{Blockquote|text='"I think independent journalism is alive. I've done this for 30 some years and there definitely are good and bad cycles, but good stories still get done and they've always gotten done. The big local papers are still doing hard-edged stories that serve the community. Look at the stories that won the Pulitzer last year—there really is good journalism out there. I'm fortunate to work at a place with six investigative reporters in Washington D.C. and seven or eight in Los Angeles. And we get the time to do stories... it's been my experience that editors and reporters find a way to get stories done."'|author=|title=|source=}}

He finished his thoughts on the subject, saying, '"That said, I don't cover national security, which is more difficult now, and getting something under the Federal Freedom of Information Act is a cumbersome process."'

In 2013, Neubauer began working as a freelance journalist, and as a special contributor for Better Government Association.

While at the Chicago Tribune, Neubauer shared the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Local Investigative Specialized Reporting for a series about abuses in Federal Housing Administration programs.{{cite web | url = http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1976 | title = 1976 Winners | publisher = Columbia University | location = New York City | access-date = 2011-12-06 }} Neubauer worked with George Bliss on the stories for 7 months. The 1975 stories resulted in Carla Hills, the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), issuing directives to tighten mortgage practices.

The Chicago Tribune published a series of his stories in 1977, and a second series, (1979–1981) that were used as evidence in Senate and House investigations. The stories are listed below.{{Cite book|url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015078617407|title=Severance pay-life insurance plans adopted by union localshearing before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-fifth Congress, first session, March 21, 1977.|date=1977|publisher=Washington|pages=36–42|hdl=2027/mdp.39015078617407}}{{Cite book|url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/pur1.32754068080799|title=Fraud and abuse in pensions and related employee benefit plans :hearing before the Select Committee on Aging, House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, first session, November 4, 1981.|date=198|publisher=Washington|pages=166–167, 228–229|hdl=2027/pur1.32754068080799}}

• Ed Hanley Finds Gateway to Riches in Hotel Union, January 16, 1977.{{Cite web|date=1977-01-16|title=Chicago Tribune Newspaper Archives, Jan 16, 1977, p. 1|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/chicago-tribune-jan-16-1977-p-1/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=NewspaperArchive.com|language=en}}
• Hotel Union's Funds Spent on Patronage and Frills, January 17, 1977.
• Hotel Union Sinks Members' Dues into Three High-Risk Loans, January 18, 1977.
• Name Sherman House Hidden Partners, June 24, 1979.
• City Asks for Title to Sherman House, November 15, 1979.
• Sherman House Purchase OK'd, June 8, 1980.
• Teamsters Loaned Angelis Bank $2 Million, April 16, 1981
• Bank Loan Scheme Told, July 12, 1981.

In 1977, while working with the Chicago Tribune, Neubauer reported on United States Representative Dan Rostenkowski, "loading his payroll with cronies."{{Cite news|last=Kurtz|first=Howard|date=1994-06-09|title=SUN-TIMES GETS ROSTY|language=en-US|work=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/06/09/sun-times-gets-rosty/5a74f7dd-9bc5-47ac-9ca5-9c0680d43f95/|access-date=2020-12-15|issn=0190-8286}} Later, in 1992, while working for the Chicago Sun-Times, Neubauer led a new investigation into Rostenkowski, with colleagues Mark Brown, and Michael Briggs. They uncovered a number of crimes, including the discovery that Rostenkowski's campaign paid $73,000 rent on a building that he owned, and he had used taxpayer money to purchase three cars. They also reported on "ghost employees," on his House payroll. Federal prosecutors subpoenaed several witnesses named in their reports; Rostenkowski was indicted, convicted and imprisoned for federal crimes.{{Cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|title=Sun-Times Won't Judge Rosty/Conflict of Interest/Make Love, Not War|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sun-times-wont-judge-rostyconflict-of-interestmake-love-not-war/Content?oid=884713|access-date=2020-12-15|website=Chicago Reader|language=en}}

in 1993, the stories were nominated for the Goldsmith prize for Investigative Reporting. Thirteen years later, when asked which stories that he had covered did he consider most important, Neubauer cited the Rostenkowski story, saying "The story was important because he was important–a brilliant congressman who crossed the line."{{cite web|title=Chuck Neubauer|url=https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/democracyondeadline/neubauer.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309020958/http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/democracyondeadline/neubauer.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 9, 2007|access-date=2011-12-06|work=Democracy on Deadline (web content)|publisher=Independent Television Service|location=San Francisco, California}}

In 2000, Tribune Media bought the Los Angeles Times and decided to build up their investigative unit in Washington. After hiring Deborah Nelson, as Washington investigations editor for the Times, Dean Baquet and Nelson talked about who they wanted to hire. In a 2001 story reported by Michael Miner, Nelson said '"the first name that came to both of us was Chuck," Nelson tells me. "I think Dean described him as a quintessential Washington reporter who by accident of birth spent his years in Chicago."'{{Cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|title=When Undercover Was King/More Bleeding at the Sun-Times|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/when-undercover-was-kingmore-bleeding-at-the-sun-times/Content?oid=906124|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Chicago Reader|language=en}}

In 2004, Neubauer and fellow reporters, Richard T. Cooper and Judy Pasternak, were nominated as finalists for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting for "The Senators' Sons." In the nomination statement, the jury recognized the team for exposing "a growing pattern of U.S. senators helping special interests that pay the lawmakers' family members hundreds of thousands of dollars as consultants or lobbyists." The stories published by the Times in 2003 included: "A Washington Bouquet: Hire a Lawmaker's Kid,"{{Cite web|date=2003-06-22|title=A WASHINGTON BOUQUET: HIRE A LAWMAKER'S KID|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-22-na-sons22-story.html|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} "Senator, His Son Get Boosts From Makers of Ephedra,"{{Cite web|date=2003-03-05|title=Senator, His Son Get Boosts From Makers of Ephedra|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-05-na-ephedra5-story.html|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} "Senator's Way to Wealth Was Paved With Favors,"{{Cite web|last1=Neubauer|first1=Chuck|first2=Richard T.|last2=Cooper|date=2003-12-17|title=Senator's Way to Wealth Was Paved With Favors|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-17-na-stevens17-story.html|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} and "In Nevada, the Name to Know is Reid."{{Cite web|date=2003-06-23|title=In Nevada, the Name to Know is Reid|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-23-na-sons23-story.html|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}

In 2009, Neubauer wrote an article concerning Dianne Feinstein, alleging ethical violations over her involvement in legislation that may have benefited her husband.{{Cite web|title=Exclusive: Senator's husband's firm cashes in on crisis|url=https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/21/senate-husbands-firm-cashes-in-on-crisis/|access-date=2020-12-19|website=The Washington Times|language=en-US}}

In October 2011, The Washington Times published a story by Neubauer, questioning whether there were ethical violations over connections between her husband's business ties and her endorsement of a nominee for ambassador to Hungary. Pelosi had listed the investment by her husband in her personal disclosure statement, as required by the House rules.{{cite news|title=Pelosi's disclosure belated in husband's land deal|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/10/pelosis-disclosure-belated-in-husbands-land-deal/|access-date=2020-12-19|newspaper=The Washington Times|language=en-US}}

In 2014, as a freelancer, and contributor to Better Government Association, Neubaurer wrote "Big Profits for Pritzkers on Costly Chicago FBI deal," with his wife, Sandy Bergo of the Chicago Sun-Times. The article was the 2015 Winner of the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors Awards.{{Cite web|title=Big profit for Pritzkers on costly Chicago FBI deal|url=https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2014/09/big-profit-for-pritzkers-on-costly-chicago-fbi-deal.html|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Illinois Review}}

Later in 2018, Neubauer collaborated on two more stories, with Bergo, involving J. B. Pritzker. The first, published on February 8, 2018, "Pritzker's Storied Charity Costs Him Little but Taxpayers a Lot" was listed in Chicago Magazine as number four in the top 10 "must-read" stories of the week. A follow-up story, "Investigating Pritzker's Philanthropy," was published on February 11.{{Cite web|date=2018-02-08|title=Pritzker's Storied Charity Costs Him Little But Taxpayers A Lot|url=https://www.bettergov.org/news/pritzker-s-storied-charity-costs-him-little-but-taxpayers-a-lot/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Better Government Association|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Moser|first=Whet|title=This Week's 10 Must-Read Stories|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/February-2018/This-Weeks-10-Must-Read-Stories/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Chicago magazine|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Better Government Association: Investigating Pritzker's philanthropy|url=https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/guest-commentary/better-government-association-investigating-pritzkers-philanthropy/article_63d71a53-12af-59ca-bec8-e45cd36da206.html|access-date=2020-12-18|website=The News-Gazette|language=en}}

Neubauer is married to freelance investigative reporter Sandy Bergo, former Investigative Producer for WBBM-TV, WJLA-TV, and senior writer for the Center for Public Integrity; she was the Executive Director of the Fund for Investigative Journalism for 10 years. They have collaborated on a number of investigative reports, and have one child.{{Cite web|title=Sandy Bergo|url=http://fij.org/sandy-bergo-bio/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=The Fund for Investigative Journalism|language=en-US}}

• 1976 Winner Pulitzer Prize for Local Investigative Specialized Reporting, for a 1975 series about abuses in Federal Housing Administration programs, with George William Bliss, Chicago Tribune.{{Cite book|last1=Brennan|first1=Elizabeth A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=63nvmt4HqTEC&q=Chuck+Neubauer+awards&pg=PA368|title=Who's who of Pulitzer Prize Winners|last2=Clarage|first2=Elizabeth C.|date=1999|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-57356-111-2|pages=368|language=en}}
• 1980 Winner Chicago Tribune's Edward Scott Beck Award, for the Cook County Assessor investigation.
• 1993 Finalist Goldsmith prize for Investigative Reporting, for the Rostenkowski Investigation, with Mark Brown and Michael Briggs, Chicago Sun-Times.
• 1998 Finalist Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, for the Investigation into Chicago City Hall Ethics Abuses, Chicago Sun-Times.{{Cite web|title=Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting|url=https://shorensteincenter.org/goldsmith-awards/investigative-reporting-prize/previous-winners-finalists|website=The Shorestein Center}}
• 1998 Ring Award for Investigative Reporting, for series on City Hall corruption, Chicago Sun-Times.
• 2001 Winner Kogan Media Award for Print Journalism from the Chicago Bar Association.{{cite journal|date=2001|title=Kogan Media Awards|journal=CBA Record|publisher=Chicago Bar Association|page=90}}
• 2004 Finalist Goldsmith prize, for "The Senators' Sons," with Richard T. Cooper and Judy Pasternak, Los Angeles Times.{{Cite web|date=2004-02-12|title='04 Goldsmith Prize finalists chosen|url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2004/02/04-goldsmith-prize-finalists-chosen/|access-date=2020-12-15|website=Harvard Gazette|language=en-US}}
• 2004 Finalist Los Angeles Press Club, Investigative series, with Richard T. Cooper and Judy Pasternak, Los Angeles Times.{{Cite web|title=Awards Finalists and Tickets SoCal 2004 – Los Angeles Press Club|url=https://lapressclub.org/awards-finalists-and-tickets-socal-2004/|access-date=2020-12-15|language=en-US}}
• 2015 Finalist Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, best Political and Government Reporting, for "Poshard the prince of pensions," with Sandy Bergo and Patrick Rehkamp, Better Government Association/Chicago Sun-Times.{{Cite web|last=Meyerson|first=Ben|date=2015-03-26|title=And the Peter Lisagor Award nominees are...|url=http://prod.headlineclub.org/2015/03/26/and-the-peter-lisagor-award-nominees-are/|access-date=2020-12-15|website=Chicago Headline Club|language=en-US}}
• 2015 Winner Illinois Associated Press Media Editors Awards, (Division A Enterprise Story) for the 2014 story, "Big Profits for Pritzkers on Costly Chicago FBI deal," with Sandy Bergo of Better Government Association/Chicago Sun-Times.{{Cite web|date=2015-06-16|title=BGA Wins Associated Press Media Award|url=https://www.bettergov.org/news/bga-wins-associated-press-media-award/|access-date=2020-12-15|website=Better Government Association|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Illinois newspapers earn state APME awards|url=https://www.saukvalley.com/2015/06/12/illinois-newspapers-earn-state-apme-awards/ay67irq/|access-date=2020-12-15|website=www.saukvalley.com|language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category-inline}}

{{PulitzerPrize Investigative Reporting}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neubauer, Chuck}}

Category:American male journalists

Category:Living people

Category:1950 births

Category:Chicago Tribune people

Category:Los Angeles Times people

Category:Medill School of Journalism alumni

Category:Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting winners

Category:The Washington Times people

Category:Chicago Sun-Times people

Category:20th-century American journalists

Category:21st-century American journalists

Category:20th-century American male writers

Category:21st-century American male writers