Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his spokespeople are masters at crafting and delivering a message. With the sale of the Chicago Sun-Times, a deal expected to close to by year's end, will his administration have a new mouthpiece?
That's the question one could ask themselves after Crain's Chicago Business columnist Greg Hinz did some digging. He found that most of the board members of the new company, Wrapports LLC., donated to the mayor's campaign fund in the last year.
Included: $25,000 from the Sun-Times' new chairman, Michael Ferro Jr., and $105,000 from Mr. Emanuel's frequent visitor at City Hall, Grosvenor Capital Management L.P. chief Michael Sacks.
The report continues, pointing out money that's been given to a business partner or civic ally of the mayor's.
In a memo to Sun-Times staff, new CEO Timothy Knight said this week the new company will look at ways to revitalize the company.
"Equally important is our commitment to quality journalism and community engagement, which is the hallmark of Sun-Times Media," he said.
Let's hope that doesn't mean the city has lost one of its important watchdogs.
- April 2011: How Rahm Retaliated Against Bad Press
- July 2011: When Rahm's Temper Made a Comeback
