Ben Joravsky

{{Short description|American newspaper columnist, author}}

{{Infobox writer | name = Ben Joravsky | image = Ben Joravsky.jpg | caption = | birth_date = November 26, 1955 | occupation = Author, journalist, | period = 1977 to present | subject = | notable_works = | awards = 2010 Chicago Journalist of the Year 2010 Illinois Journalist of the Year | website = {{URL|https://www.thebenjoravskyshow.com}} | birth_place = Connecticut | years_active = 1981 to present | children = 2 | education = Evanston Township High School | nationality = American | alma_mater = Lawrence University }} '''Ben''' "'''Benny Jay'''" '''Joravsky''' (born November 26, 1955)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ben Joravsky, Staff Writer Chicago Reader |url=https://coalchicago.com/guest-speakers/ben-joravsky-staff-writer-chicago-reader/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Coalition of African American Leaders |language=en-US}}</ref> is an American journalist, author, and podcast host known for his investigative reporting on local politics and municipal finance. He was a longtime writer for the Chicago Reader and won the 2010 Chicago Journalist of the Year Award.

== Early life and family == Born to Jewish American parents. David Joravsky, a history professor and Doris a public school teacher in Connecticut. Joravsky grew up in Rhode Island until the age of 13, he moved with his family to Evanston, Illinois. He attended Evanston Township High School.{{cn|date=December 2025}}

He attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and did not start writing until his senior year of college for the student paper as a hobby.<ref>{{Cite web |last=readjack |date=2012-01-18 |title=People With Passion: Ben Joravsky |url=https://readjack.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/people-with-passion-ben-joravsky/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=ReadJack.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Career == Known as the people's journalist of Chicago and considered by left the Studs Terkel of the early 21st century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2012-02-23 |title=A Politician and a Journalist Give Students an Insider's View on Chicago Issues |url=https://acm.edu/features/feature/330/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Associated Colleges of the Midwest |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Denali Dasgupta--The Group W Bench |url=https://art19.com/shows/the-ben-joravsky-show/episodes/2e6990e5-3735-43dc-9ca6-fbf891d3ac8a |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=ART19}}</ref> Joravsky moved to Chicago in 1981 and began freelancing for the Reader shortly after. He became a full-time staff writer in 1990 and has remained with the publication for most of its history, focusing on investigating power, money, and politics in Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bernstein |first=David |title=Because for 25 years a thorough, thoughtful reporter has been keeping an eye on City Hall |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/December-2010/40-Reasons-Ben-Joravsky-Keeps-an-Eye-on-City-Hall/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Chicago Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Joravsky has reported on numerous instances of local political corruption, including ghost employees, kickbacks, and other schemes.{{cn|date=December 2025}}

Notable stories that Joravsky has touched on is<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stovicek |first=Olivia |date=2017-09-05 |title=An Alternative Voice |url=https://southsideweekly.com/alternative-voice-ben-joravsky-journalism-history-future/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=South Side Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref> Tax Increment Financing (TIF) abuses he is well known for his extensive and critical reporting on Chicago's TIF program.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-05-05 |title=Daley Praises West Rogers Park, Extols Tax Increment Financing - CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/daley-praises-west-rogers-park-extols-tax-increment-financing/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why is Ben Joravsky So Mad? Gapers Block: Revenge of the Second City |url=https://gapersblock.com/airbags/archives/why_is_ben_joravsky_so_mad/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=gapersblock.com}}</ref> His investigations revealed how a program intended to spur development in "blighted" areas was often diverted to wealthy communities or used as a "shadow budget" with little public oversight, taking money away from schools and parks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-08-02 |title=The TIF That Keeps on Giving? |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/daley-dips-into-his-slush-fund/1899883/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Logue |first=Ann |date=2013-02-28 |title=Ben Joravsky talks TIFs |url=https://annlogue.com/ben-joravsky-talks-tifs/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Ann C. Logue |language=en-US}}</ref>

Chicago parking meter deal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rhodes |first=Steve |date=2009-04-09 |title=Inside The Parking Meter Mess |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/inside-the-parking-meter-mess/1878019/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref> In collaboration with Block Club Chicago Reporter Mick Dumke, Joravsky produced a multi-part investigative series titled "FAIL: The Reader's Parking Meter Investigation".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Connie |title=Chicago Residents Outraged Over Sale of Chicago Parking Meters and Garages - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson |url=https://www.weeklywilson.com/chicago-residents-outraged-over-sale-of-chicago-parking-meters-and-garages/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> The series exposed how the city under Mayor Richard M. Daley leased its 36,000 parking meters to a private group (led by Morgan Stanley) for 75 years for a fraction of their actual worth, rushing the deal through the City Council with minimal review.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-12-10 |title=FAIL: The Reader's Parking Meter Investigation |url=https://chicagoreader.com/news/fail-the-readers-parking-meter-investigation/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}</ref>

Over his 40 year career Jorvasky has interviewed a diverse set of people Harold Washington, Craig Hodges, Stacey Davis Gates, [https://thetriibe.com/author/monroe-anderson/#:~:text=is%20a%20four%2Dtime%20Pulitzer,Times%20and%20the%20Chicago%20Defender. Monroe Anderson], Kat Abughazaleh, Brandon Johnson, George Freeman, Karen Lewis, Steve James, Kevin Blackistone, Jerry Krause. [https://www.thebenjoravskyshow.com/episodes/]

Joravsky published his first book in 1987<ref>{{Cite book |last=Joravsky |first=Ben |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Race_and_Politics_in_Chicago.html?id=Q8p5OQAACAAJ |title=Race and Politics in Chicago |last2=Camacho |first2=Eduardo |date=1987 |publisher=Community Renewal Society |language=en}}</ref> ''Race and Politics in Chicago'', his others include 1995<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discussing the book "Hoop Dreams: A True Story of Hardship and Triumph" with the author Ben Joravsky |url=https://studsterkel.wfmt.com/programs/discussing-book-hoop-dreams-true-story-hardship-and-triumph-author-ben-joravsky |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=The WFMT Studs Terkel Radio Archive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-04-11 |title=There's No Business Like Shoe Business |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/04/11/theres-no-business-like-shoe-business/761e52a6-adc6-47a7-9ceb-ef766f4a9637/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Hoop Dreams ''The True Story of Hardship and Triumph'' and the 2013 fiction<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kather |first=Katie |date=2013-03-04 |title=Reader's Agenda Mon 3/4: The Greens, Pulaski Day, and puppets |url=https://chicagoreader.com/blogs/readers-agenda-mon-3-4-the-greens-pulaski-day-and-puppets/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}</ref> ''The Greens'' about Cabrini Green housing projects in the 1970s. His other memorable work is the highly acclaimed 40,000 word article A Simple Game which followed coach Manny Weincord and Roosevelt High School Rough Riders basketball team for the 1991–1992 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levitt |first=Aimee |date=2018-03-01 |title=Joravsky's classic ‘A Simple Game’ is the greatest story you will ever read about high school basketball |url=https://chicagoreader.com/blogs/joravskys-classic-a-simple-game-is-the-greatest-story-you-will-ever-read-about-high-school-basketball/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Limón |first=Ada |title=American Pharoah |date=2019-10-01 |work=Bodies Built for Game |pages=7–8 |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvn1tbgb.7 |access-date=2025-12-21 |publisher=UNP - Nebraska}}</ref>

== Later work == From 2017 to 2018 he hosted The Ben Joravsky Show as a weekday afternoon host on WCPT AM 820, a progressive talk radio station, while continuing his work with the Reader.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-09 |title=Reader’s Ben Joravsky joins WCPT as afternoon host {{!}} Robert Feder |url=https://robertfeder.dailyherald.com/2017/03/24/readers-ben-joravsky-joins-wcpt-afternoon-host/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Joravsky |first=Ben |date=2019-01-03 |title=Just eight days after a glowing performance review at WCPT, the ax fell |url=https://chicagoreader.com/columns-opinion/just-eight-days-after-a-glowing-performance-review-at-wcpt-the-ax-fell/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2019 the show was relaunched as a livestream and podcast, presented by the Chicago Reader and Chicago Sun-Times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why and how wealthy Dem donor fired Joravsky from WCPT radio - Inside Chicago Government |url=https://www.chigov.com/chicago/elections/wcpt-fires-joravsky |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=www.chigov.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-09 |title=Robservations: WCPT cuts afternoon host Ben Joravsky {{!}} Robert Feder |url=https://robertfeder.dailyherald.com/2018/12/28/robservations-wcpt-cuts-afternoon-host-ben-joravsky/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2025, he accepted a voluntary buyout from the newspaper and continues to host the podcast. He also writes for the humor blog The Third City.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-12 |title=The Chicago Reader Staff Just Voted Unanimously To Authorize a Strike |url=https://inthesetimes.com/article/the-chicago-reader-staff-just-voted-unanimously-to-authorize-a-strike |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=In These Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Worthington |first=Clint |date=2025-08-26 |title=After Layoffs, Chicago Reader Survives With New Seattle-Based Owner |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/08/26/after-layoffs-chicago-reader-survives-with-new-portland-based-owner/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Awards and honors == * Chicago Journalist of the Year Award from the Chicago Journalists Association 2010.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Journalists Association Journalism Awards |url=https://chicagojournalists.net/cja-rewards/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Chicago Journalists Association |language=en-US}}</ref> * Illinois Journalist of the Year Award from Northern Illinois University 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The First 100 Days: Priorities for Mayor Lightfoot - City Club Chicago |url=https://www.cityclub-chicago.org/event/2/2405/the-first-100-days-priorities-for-mayor-lightfoot |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=www.cityclub-chicago.org}}</ref> * Peter Lisagor Awards from the Chicago Headline Club 2009, 2011, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-04-26 |title=2009 Lisagor Winners |url=https://headlineclub.org/2010/04/26/2009-lisagor-winners/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Chicago Headline Club |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-05-06 |title=Congratulations to our Lisagor winners! |url=https://headlineclub.org/2011/05/06/congratulations-to-our-lisagor-winners/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Chicago Headline Club |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Mike |date=2023-05-13 |title=These are the winners of the 46th Annual Peter Lisagor Awards |url=https://headlineclub.org/2023/05/13/these-are-the-winners-of-the-46th-annual-peter-lisagor-awards/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Chicago Headline Club |language=en-US}}</ref> * Studs Terkel Award from the Community Media Workshop Public Narrative for body of work covering Chicago's diverse communities 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Studs Terkel Awards |url=https://www.publicnarrative.org/blog/2015/10/studs-terkel-awards |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Increasing trust between the public and media since 1989. |language=en-US}}</ref> * AltWeekly Awards from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies awards 2009, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zaragoza |first=Jason |date=2009-07-01 |title=Full List of 2009 AltWeekly Awards Winners Released • AAN Publishers |url=https://aan.org/aan/full-list-of-2009-altweekly-awards-winners-released/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=AAN Publishers |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Snead |first=Molly |date=2020-09-18 |title=2020 AAN Awards Winners Announced • AAN Publishers |url=https://aan.org/aan/2020-aan-awards-winners/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=AAN Publishers |language=en-US}}</ref> * Driehaus Foundation Investigative Journalism Award for The Shadow Budget: Who Wins Daley's TIF Game 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lansing’s Last-Day Largess for Retirees - Better Government Association |url=https://www.bettergov.org/archives/page/46/?print=print-search |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=www.bettergov.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting: Untangling The Truth |url=https://www.bettergov.org/the-richard-h-driehaus-foundation-awards-for-investigative-reporting-untangling-the-truth/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Better Government Association |language=en-US}}</ref> * Ron Sable Award for Activism 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |last=blademann |date=2015-01-09 |title=Seeds of Change 2015 |url=https://crossroadsfund.org/seeds-of-change-2015-2/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Crossroads Fund |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Selected works ==

=== Articles ===

* Joravsky, Ben. (December 1992). [https://chicagoreader.com/news/a-simple-game/ A Simple Game]. The Chicago Reader. Vol. 22, no. 8. * Dumke, M & Joravsky, B. (December, 2009). [https://chicagoreader.com/news/fail-the-readers-parking-meter-investigation/ Fail: The Readers Parking Meter Investigation]. The Chicago Reader. Vol.39, no. 12. * [https://chicagoreader.com/news/the-lost-harold-washington-files/ The lost Harold Washington files] ( November, 2017). The Chicago Reader. Vol. 47, no. 9. Joravsky, B.

=== Books ===

* Hoop Dreams: The True Story of Hardship and Triumph (1996), ISBN 0060976896 * Race and Politics in Chicago (1987), {{ISBN|99-99-89421-6}} * The Greens (2013), ISBN

== References == {{Reflist}}

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Category:Independent newspapers published in the United States Category:American columnists Category:Jewish American writers Category:Writers from Chicago Category:Culture of Chicago Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Evanston Township High School alumni Category:Lawrence University alumni Category:Chicago Reader people