Dumke Departs Reader For CNC

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jul 15, 2010 3:45PM

An eyebrow-raiser in the local media world this morning: The Reader's Mick Dumke, who's produced some of the best investigative reporting in the city over the last few years, is departing the weekly alt-paper for the Chicago News Cooperative, according to Reader colleague Michael Miner. It's a big name pick-up for the CNC and one who, for once, doesn't have an extensive background at the Tribune. In a talk with Miner, Dumke insists his departure isn't a protest over the firing of long-time editor Alison True, but that after that firing, "the conversations intensified."

It's also a big loss for the Reader, who still has great talent. But Dumke, along with Ben Joravsky, has written or helped write some of that pub's biggest stories over the past two years: The Shadow Budget, The Parking Meter Fiasco, and, more recently, the Handgun Debate (which, in one press conference, Mayor Daley offered to shove a musket up Dumke's butt). And we still love his sparring match with Ald. Stone.

The CNC has grown considerably since its launch last fall, expanding to daily coverage beyond the twice-a-week section in the New York Times. Between its growth and moves by local media folk like Robert Feder and Jim DeRogatis to Vocalo, it'll be interesting to see who else these smaller organizations will able to woo away.