Opinion

Takeover could lead to reports on ugly truths

Posted April 07, 2018 1:00 am

Your "Our View" column on April 3 suggested that the takeover of WGN by conservative broadcast group Sinclair will have a "chilling effect" on the journalistic freedoms of that media outlet. What if, through this change of ownership, WGN became the Chicago media outlet that honestly focused on exposing the political corruption that has destroyed the economic and fiscal stability of Illinois?

What if WGN reported day after day why our public pension obligations are unsustainable, how Illinois tax increases are consumed to support pension obligations, why Illinois property taxes are among the highest in the nation and why Illinois is losing more residents year after year than any other state. The list of meaningful investigative reporting assignments can go on and on.

The real "chilling effect" could be that WGN, "Chicago's Very Own," becomes an effective change agent for the political power structure that has been so irresponsible to its citizens for so many years. That would be award-winning journalism. Who knows, WGN could have ratings like Roseanne.

Bob Bensman

St. Charles

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