By: Michaela Wilson
Since the beginning of my journalistic studies in high school, I have always known I wanted my reporting to have an impact. Growing up, watching investigative reporters on WGN, NBC, and ABC, I knew I wanted to be like them. I wanted to incite a change and bring a voice to those who cannot have theirs heard.
One Chicago journalist that did just that was John Drury. He was one of the city’s most influential and beloved faces on air and was known for his dedication to investigative reporting and his role as a trusted news anchor. He first entered the field of journalism straight out of the University of Iowa in 1950 at radio station KSTT in Davenport, Iowa.
He worked in radio and TV in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Indianapolis and Milwaukee, before coming to Chicago to work at WBBM. Drury switched over to WGN to anchor the 10 o’clock news in 1967 after spending five years at WBBM. He stayed there for three years before moving to the anchor desk at WLS and would change between WGN and WLS before retirement in 2002.
His career, however, extended beyond the anchor desk; it was his commitment to investigative journalism that left a lasting impact on Chicago. Drury’s career is one that I would love to emulate. His collaboration with award-winning producer Alex Burkholder, resulted in numerous reports that changed the lives of many Chicagoans.
During his time at WGN, Mayor Byrne and her public relations and cabinet officials confronted Drury about his reporting on her administration’s use of public money for city festivals. He stood firm in his commitment to truth and Byrne’s political career diminished shortly after.
He also played a crucial role in exonerating Kurtis Washington, a young man wrongfully imprisoned for nine years for a murder he did not commit. Drury’s investigation into Washington’s case showcased his commitment to justice and his ability to use journalism as a force for good.
“He wanted to be remembered as a broadcast journalist, not just an anchorman,” Burkholder told the Chicago Tribune.
His dedication to inflicting change allowed me to hope that my dreams of doing the same can be possible. As a future journalist, it is hard to see the finish line that you imagine for your career. However, looking at Drury’s path, I was able to see how to get there.
He taught me that although I will not start off in this industry at my dream job, there is nothing holding me back from getting me where I want to be. Drury was invested in every aspect of his stories and took pride in the greater good he was reporting. His investigative work was not just a job for him; it was a calling that defined his career.Having that drive and love for storytelling is something I find inspiring as a young reporter. I hope to feel that same dedication in my career and be able to use my passion for change like Drury did. Being able to make your passion into a career is not something that many people get to do, and it is fulfilling to know that our work does hold power.
Drury showed me that if you truly love something, you will find a way to show it to the world. His career was a testament to the power of journalism and left a mark on Chicago. Through his integrity and passion for the truth, he exemplified the best of what journalism can achieve and set a high standard for future journalists, such as myself.
-30-