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Exposure #2
Ms. Mirage
When an investigative journalist’s bold and infamous undercover sting laid bare graft-ridden 1970s Chicago from inside a dummy pub, she became a star among men. But could she win the big one?
In the era of Watergate and rising feminist awareness, reporter Pam Zekman was queen of the muckrakers. Her biggest buy a bar, document the inevitable city department shakedowns and bribes, and publicly document Chicago’s institutionalized corruption. Her epic story changed Chicago and also raised serious questions about the future of journalism.
Joe Tone’s Ms. Mirage is part of Exposure, a collection of six incredible and true stories of American double lives from millionaire CEOs and suburban teens to undercover investigators and scam artists—all for whom secrets are a way of life. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single astonished sitting.
In the era of Watergate and rising feminist awareness, reporter Pam Zekman was queen of the muckrakers. Her biggest buy a bar, document the inevitable city department shakedowns and bribes, and publicly document Chicago’s institutionalized corruption. Her epic story changed Chicago and also raised serious questions about the future of journalism.
Joe Tone’s Ms. Mirage is part of Exposure, a collection of six incredible and true stories of American double lives from millionaire CEOs and suburban teens to undercover investigators and scam artists—all for whom secrets are a way of life. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single astonished sitting.
55 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2019
262 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Joe Tone
2 books21 followersJoe Tone is an award-winning journalist and the author of Bones: Brothers, Horses, Cartels, and the Borderland Dream. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, the Village Voice, Deadspin, and elsewhere. The former editor of the Dallas Observer, he lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 23, 2022
Looking through the eyes of a journalist.
This read was interesting. At times, it was hard to read what the journalist saw and how people were treated…it really makes me angry this goes on.
I am glad that she was able to shed light on some of the injustice that was happening in her city. I wish more people would expose corruption like she did.
The book mostly reads well, I took a star off because at times you wonder why the author included information that alarmist seems from left field. Minimal but slightly distracting.
This read was interesting. At times, it was hard to read what the journalist saw and how people were treated…it really makes me angry this goes on.
I am glad that she was able to shed light on some of the injustice that was happening in her city. I wish more people would expose corruption like she did.
The book mostly reads well, I took a star off because at times you wonder why the author included information that alarmist seems from left field. Minimal but slightly distracting.
December 30, 2020
Interesting and true story of female journalist Pam Zekman and her undercover reporting in Chicago in the 1970s. Most notably, she stood up to Mike Wallace.
June 23, 2019
Ms. Mirage, by Joe Tone, is a non-fiction novel about undercover journalism. Readers can probably quickly identify the subject of undercover reporting through its visible television component exemplified by 60 Minutes, a broadcast identified in this account. This book focuses on the career of Pam Zekman, and her career working as a journalist for two Chicago newspapers, the Chicago Tribune, and the Chicago Sun-Times. Her print career began in 1970 and lasted to 1981 when she switched to television news.
On the Chicago Tribune Pam worked as part of a team exposing Nursing Home abuses. In a team effort on election voter fraud, the story won a Pulitzer Prize. While doing reporting on these targeted projects, Pam became aware of different kinds of scams and shakedowns that business owners had to pay to do business. There was no realistic way to go undercover against such comprehensive graft from so many agencies. There were inspectors for building codes, plumbers, electricians, health and food inspectors, fire inspectors, and licensing agencies, all readily accepted bribes to speed necessary processing of permits. Pam had an idea. She would start a bar and have the corruptors come to her.
The Chicago Tribune management came up with nothing but reasons to say no. Pam would eventually take her idea to the Sun-Times where, if it was not enthusiastically accepted, it was at least allowed. Pam got her approval to start a bar from the Sun-Times in 1975. Buying and outfitting a bar took time, and Pam’s bar, The Mirage would not open until near the end of 1977. Customers arrived as did solicitors of bribes. The bar stayed open until Pam and her team members decided they had enough proof to publish an expose of city corruption. Stories in the Sun-Times began in January 1978.
This account is one of six that make up an Exposure Collection on Amazon. Each selection focuses on a grand scam or scheme to illegally obtain money by the greedy few from the gullible many. The books are intriguing not for their content or even named characters but for the processes employed to divert funds. These short accounts reveal how smart thieves can exploit holes in a system. The stories can contribute to consumer awareness in the age of a growing number of incidents of identity theft and cybercrime.
I have read two books from this collection. I gave Ms. Mirage four Amazon stars for transparent reporting. Not every book in the collection is as clear. I found The Two Million Dollar Intern, another Exposure Collection Title, left me mired down in detail and unclear timelines. I decided not to post a review of Intern. After reading Ms. Mirage, which I liked, I know I must be careful with books from the Exposure Collection.
On the Chicago Tribune Pam worked as part of a team exposing Nursing Home abuses. In a team effort on election voter fraud, the story won a Pulitzer Prize. While doing reporting on these targeted projects, Pam became aware of different kinds of scams and shakedowns that business owners had to pay to do business. There was no realistic way to go undercover against such comprehensive graft from so many agencies. There were inspectors for building codes, plumbers, electricians, health and food inspectors, fire inspectors, and licensing agencies, all readily accepted bribes to speed necessary processing of permits. Pam had an idea. She would start a bar and have the corruptors come to her.
The Chicago Tribune management came up with nothing but reasons to say no. Pam would eventually take her idea to the Sun-Times where, if it was not enthusiastically accepted, it was at least allowed. Pam got her approval to start a bar from the Sun-Times in 1975. Buying and outfitting a bar took time, and Pam’s bar, The Mirage would not open until near the end of 1977. Customers arrived as did solicitors of bribes. The bar stayed open until Pam and her team members decided they had enough proof to publish an expose of city corruption. Stories in the Sun-Times began in January 1978.
This account is one of six that make up an Exposure Collection on Amazon. Each selection focuses on a grand scam or scheme to illegally obtain money by the greedy few from the gullible many. The books are intriguing not for their content or even named characters but for the processes employed to divert funds. These short accounts reveal how smart thieves can exploit holes in a system. The stories can contribute to consumer awareness in the age of a growing number of incidents of identity theft and cybercrime.
I have read two books from this collection. I gave Ms. Mirage four Amazon stars for transparent reporting. Not every book in the collection is as clear. I found The Two Million Dollar Intern, another Exposure Collection Title, left me mired down in detail and unclear timelines. I decided not to post a review of Intern. After reading Ms. Mirage, which I liked, I know I must be careful with books from the Exposure Collection.
July 12, 2019
Ms. Courageous
This was a fascinating story of a courageous journalist and her brilliant idea to capture evidence of corruption business owners were facing in Chicago in the 70s. Along the way an interesting cast of characters aided the great experiment. It was wonderful to see the newspaper supporting their efforts. Creating a tavern was a novel idea. I was sorry to learn that they did not win a Pulitzer Prize for their efforts. Pam Zekman is part of a vanishing breed of investigative journalism. She is still fighting corruption in Chicago's city government. An entertaining and informative read. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audiobook. Great narration made the story come alive.
This was a fascinating story of a courageous journalist and her brilliant idea to capture evidence of corruption business owners were facing in Chicago in the 70s. Along the way an interesting cast of characters aided the great experiment. It was wonderful to see the newspaper supporting their efforts. Creating a tavern was a novel idea. I was sorry to learn that they did not win a Pulitzer Prize for their efforts. Pam Zekman is part of a vanishing breed of investigative journalism. She is still fighting corruption in Chicago's city government. An entertaining and informative read. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audiobook. Great narration made the story come alive.
January 30, 2021
Interesting expose!
April 13, 2020
This nonfiction work is based on the true story of undercover investigative journalist Pam Zekman and her colleagues 1970s exposé of city corruption. Author Joe Tone writes: "they'd dreamed together about going undercover to reveal the pay-to-play culture of Chicago" (kindle location 164).
This was a good read and apart of a short story exposure series that focuses on crime and corruption.
This was a good read and apart of a short story exposure series that focuses on crime and corruption.
November 7, 2019
A newspaper buys a Chicago bar to do a series on city graft, bribes, etc. This rather hagiographic account is more about the reporters involved than the corruption they uncovered.
May 9, 2022
The Mirage was a brilliant idea.
August 22, 2019
Interesting story about the great lengths a journalist went through to get her story. She had the perfect plan and it makes me wonder how often these types of undercover businesses pop up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2019
Trying a new Kindle Singles series, Exposure collection, all about investigative journalism, thus making it the first nonfiction. This one was all about the inner politics of Chicago and one brave determined woman, who spends decades uncovering terrible stories of abuses of power by the government officials. She starts in the 70s and in an infamous case actually sets up a working bar appropriately named Mirage to chronicle the bribes and such she needs to dole out to various inspectors, etc. to get it going. So as you’d expect, there’s a lot of bribes and a dramatic scarcity of honest government officials. No surprises there. But the audacity of these investigations, the drive behind it, the determination to shine the light and rake the mud and ruffle the feathers is pretty impressive. And these stories do end up making a difference, which must be so very gratifying after all that work. I don’t normally read investigative journalism, mostly just NYT summaries of it or John Oliver’s hilarious rant prone versions of it. So this wasn’t exactly my thing, but it was very interesting to listen to. Much like podcasts which are also not for me and also technically interesting to listen to. For fans of journalistic exposes and undercover works, though, this would probably be a really terrific story. Listening experience was just ok, I can’t seem to enjoy female narrators, it’s a weird weird personal preference. But the story is there and it is a good story well worth your time.
June 21, 2019
Historic Journalism
Another fascinating installment of the Exposure series, Ms. Mirage is the story of a female reporter for the Chicago Sun Times who relentlessly pursued undercover stories for the betterment of the citizens of Chicago. Pam Zekman made it her business to ferret out illegal, immoral, and dangerous practices and elicit change within the system. She was a bulldog, a real fighter for justice. Here the author shares the details of one of her biggest stories in the 70s, opening a bar to uncover the shakedown of small business owners by city officials and inspectors. It was an ambitious project, and an example of how diferent journalism was back then.
Tone brilliantly captures the highs and lows of Zekman's journey, the difficulties she faced as a woman, and the rampant corruption that existed. The story never dragged and yet I felt it contained sufficient details to show just how Pam and her crew accomplished their goal and the odds they were up against. Great piece on an important topic. The book contains audio narration which I took advantage of. The narrator had a compelling voice and her pacing was even. They used a female narrator which makes it easier to feel you are in Pam's head.
Another fascinating installment of the Exposure series, Ms. Mirage is the story of a female reporter for the Chicago Sun Times who relentlessly pursued undercover stories for the betterment of the citizens of Chicago. Pam Zekman made it her business to ferret out illegal, immoral, and dangerous practices and elicit change within the system. She was a bulldog, a real fighter for justice. Here the author shares the details of one of her biggest stories in the 70s, opening a bar to uncover the shakedown of small business owners by city officials and inspectors. It was an ambitious project, and an example of how diferent journalism was back then.
Tone brilliantly captures the highs and lows of Zekman's journey, the difficulties she faced as a woman, and the rampant corruption that existed. The story never dragged and yet I felt it contained sufficient details to show just how Pam and her crew accomplished their goal and the odds they were up against. Great piece on an important topic. The book contains audio narration which I took advantage of. The narrator had a compelling voice and her pacing was even. They used a female narrator which makes it easier to feel you are in Pam's head.
November 7, 2020
Reporter Exposes Chicago 1970s Political Bribery
The true story account of Chicago undercover investigative reporter, Pam Zekman, and her efforts to expose political corruption of many within Mayor Richard J. Daley's political machine. In this "gotcha" sting operation, author Joe Tone describes the details of how a bar called the "Mirage" was set up and documented how city inspectors and others required "payments" to get both false inspections and expedited approvals for the bar's operations.
This account explains the planning and secrecy surrounding the newspapers support and management of this undercover reporting process and the care taken to avoid "enticement" in this sting operation that exposed "standard-practice" corruption among Chicago gatekeepers and bureaucrats in the 1970s.
Well-written and compelling, this exposé gives evidence of how old-style political bosses funded and maintained their illegal operations. Told too is the background story of how undercover investigative journalism has fallen out of favor of today's mauntstream news organizations.
The story also reveals Pam Zekman's backstory motivations for becoming a reporter who exposed political corruption in Chicago's shadier past.
This "old news" deserves retelling to remind us of the dangers of political perversions, suggesting for us to be even more vigilant today in identifying and stopping newer and possibly more invasive forms of political and bureaucratic abuses of power.
The Audible narration served well in enlivening the factual story details.
The true story account of Chicago undercover investigative reporter, Pam Zekman, and her efforts to expose political corruption of many within Mayor Richard J. Daley's political machine. In this "gotcha" sting operation, author Joe Tone describes the details of how a bar called the "Mirage" was set up and documented how city inspectors and others required "payments" to get both false inspections and expedited approvals for the bar's operations.
This account explains the planning and secrecy surrounding the newspapers support and management of this undercover reporting process and the care taken to avoid "enticement" in this sting operation that exposed "standard-practice" corruption among Chicago gatekeepers and bureaucrats in the 1970s.
Well-written and compelling, this exposé gives evidence of how old-style political bosses funded and maintained their illegal operations. Told too is the background story of how undercover investigative journalism has fallen out of favor of today's mauntstream news organizations.
The story also reveals Pam Zekman's backstory motivations for becoming a reporter who exposed political corruption in Chicago's shadier past.
This "old news" deserves retelling to remind us of the dangers of political perversions, suggesting for us to be even more vigilant today in identifying and stopping newer and possibly more invasive forms of political and bureaucratic abuses of power.
The Audible narration served well in enlivening the factual story details.
February 14, 2022
Pam Zekman goes undercover to report on abuse in nursing homes. The accolades associated secure her job in Chicago but don't give her free range. It takes several years and a transfer to the Sun-Times before she is able to do her biggest investigation. She buys a bar and operates it for a short time so she is able to document the city department shakedowns and corruption. 60 Minutes coverage made the story famous but as people worried about the legality of her process and the insuing fallout, journalism changed forever.
This wasn't a story I was directly familiar with and appreciated the straightforward approach. While it focused on Pam's feelings/concerns and process, I did learn factual details as well which hasn't been the case with all of the Exposure Collection. It's still just a short biographic style non-fiction piece so the audience will be limited.
This wasn't a story I was directly familiar with and appreciated the straightforward approach. While it focused on Pam's feelings/concerns and process, I did learn factual details as well which hasn't been the case with all of the Exposure Collection. It's still just a short biographic style non-fiction piece so the audience will be limited.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2024
In Chicago, though, political corruption was so pervasive, so institutionalized, that sources could be more difficult to scare up, especially when the mob was involved. So undercover reporting lived on.
Pam Zekman, 31, works as an undercover journalist. She exposes the widespread corruption in the city of Chicago.
From nursing home elder abuse scandals to voter fraud; hospital malfeasance to sanitation department hijinks…
Mayor Richard J. Daley, fostering the culture of exploitation and graft.
The Tavern Project:
In eighteen months, Pam had transformed the tavern project from a paper dream hidden among her files to a bona fide business.
Mike Wallace from 60 Minutes, the manipulative and misogynistic asshole. Trying to steal Pam’s thunder—and risks blowing everyone’s covers.
Pam’s widespread influence on journalism, and her lasting legacy…
“Is there entrapment involved here?”
“None whatsoever. We’re letting whatever comes through the door come through the door.”
Pam Zekman, 31, works as an undercover journalist. She exposes the widespread corruption in the city of Chicago.
From nursing home elder abuse scandals to voter fraud; hospital malfeasance to sanitation department hijinks…
Mayor Richard J. Daley, fostering the culture of exploitation and graft.
The Tavern Project:
In eighteen months, Pam had transformed the tavern project from a paper dream hidden among her files to a bona fide business.
Mike Wallace from 60 Minutes, the manipulative and misogynistic asshole. Trying to steal Pam’s thunder—and risks blowing everyone’s covers.
Pam’s widespread influence on journalism, and her lasting legacy…
“Is there entrapment involved here?”
“None whatsoever. We’re letting whatever comes through the door come through the door.”
June 24, 2019
I enjoyed this story a lot. It gave a great look into journalist going undercover to expose corruption. The best part about the story is that a woman exposed the corruption that was taking place in Chicago. I applauded her tenacity throughout the ordeal. She held her ground even dealing with Mike Wallace, who tried more than a few times to bully her all because she was a woman. Although her undercover expose didn't win the Pulitzer, she (along with a team) were able to shed light on the wrong doings in Chicago. I applauded her for being courageous during a time when women were deemed as being less than.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2019
No City Is Exempt
Think what you will but know this, every city, no matter how large or small, how sophisticated or back- water, has it own stories of incompetence, malfeasance or corruption. Thank God there are those who will dig for the facts and report them. Not tell us what to think. Not tell us why they think this out that was done. Just TELL us what is happening. Let us, or the powers in authority, do what needs to be done. Let us tell them. And keep on investigating, no muckraking, please. These folks did it right. They did it for us, not for themselves or their sense of right.
Think what you will but know this, every city, no matter how large or small, how sophisticated or back- water, has it own stories of incompetence, malfeasance or corruption. Thank God there are those who will dig for the facts and report them. Not tell us what to think. Not tell us why they think this out that was done. Just TELL us what is happening. Let us, or the powers in authority, do what needs to be done. Let us tell them. And keep on investigating, no muckraking, please. These folks did it right. They did it for us, not for themselves or their sense of right.
Read
December 16, 2019Ms. Mirage by Joe Tone tells the story of the Chicago Sun Times reporters, led by Pam Zekman, who went undercover to get a story about corruption in the city. They purchased a bar and set out to fix it up. They found that building, plumbing, and electrical inspectors were on the take, there were shakedowns by liquor inspectors, and there was tax fraud by accountants who taught them to use two sets of books.
It was an enlightening story but disappointing for the authors of the article, as it didn’t win a Pulitzer. The panel said that reporters should not misrepresent themselves, period. This said, even though investigative reporting was going on everywhere.
It was an enlightening story but disappointing for the authors of the article, as it didn’t win a Pulitzer. The panel said that reporters should not misrepresent themselves, period. This said, even though investigative reporting was going on everywhere.
January 4, 2021
A fascinating story of some amazing undercover reporting —
Ms. Mirage tells the true story of a dedicated newspaper reporter who convinced her bosses to open a fake “bar” and use it to document the corruption of Chicago city officials. It’s inspiring that she was willing and able to go to such lengths to get the story, and the way they put their undercover operation and ran it is also quite interesting.
Ms. Mirage tells the true story of a dedicated newspaper reporter who convinced her bosses to open a fake “bar” and use it to document the corruption of Chicago city officials. It’s inspiring that she was willing and able to go to such lengths to get the story, and the way they put their undercover operation and ran it is also quite interesting.
December 30, 2024
The true story of Pam Zekman, an investigative journalist whose undercover operation in which she and her team ran a fake bar named the Mirage threw a spotlight on corruption among Chicago city officials in the 70s. A quick and interesting read that will leave readers wanting to know more about this award-winning reform-minded reporter who made such a difference in the lives of Chicagoans during her 40-year reign in the industry.
May 31, 2019
The first book I read in this collection made me question if I wanted to read any others. However I’m happy to say this story has redeemed the collection and I will continue checking them out. Unlike the previous book I read in this collection this one was a well flushed out, well written, fascinating read.
November 11, 2020
Having grown up in Chicago in the Mayor Richard Daley years, I was fascinated with the descriptions and processes used to expose the corruption, something we all knew was going on but were powerless to do anything about. It is amazing that it was exposed in this way which also brought about change. The story was told interestingly, intriguingly, succinctly and yet thoroughly. Well done.
September 10, 2022
Female investigative journalist spearheads an exposé in the late 1970s to chronicle official corruption and shakedowns by city officials on small businesses by setting up their own tavern. Some of the true tale amusing (eg journalists not able to actually tend a bar)
Short Amazon non fiction item.
Short Amazon non fiction item.
June 4, 2023
Great Read About Investigative Reporting
Well written book describing the inner workings of bribery within the agencies who demand and accept bribes before signing off on building code issues. This was an easy read, yet full of information about how important investigate reporting is, and how such hard work pays off.
Well written book describing the inner workings of bribery within the agencies who demand and accept bribes before signing off on building code issues. This was an easy read, yet full of information about how important investigate reporting is, and how such hard work pays off.
June 6, 2019
This was the first book I listened to from the six story Exposure collection (free from Amazon prime). This was a solid read, but I wish there had been more detail regarding what they discovered as part of the tavern project.
June 9, 2019
A modern day Nellie Bly
Great short story on an investigative journalist in Chicago. I admire her for not confirming to the traditional thoughts on female journalists only being good for style and fashion reporting. Brava Ms. Mirage!
Great short story on an investigative journalist in Chicago. I admire her for not confirming to the traditional thoughts on female journalists only being good for style and fashion reporting. Brava Ms. Mirage!
July 5, 2019
Interesting read about an undercover journalistic investigation of Chicago corruption. The details about setting up the operation and the progress were interesting but I felt like I wanted a little more detail about the stories that were published. This is more of a “story behind the story”.
July 14, 2019
A fascinating true story of a female reporter in the 1970s who worked hard to expose corruption in her city Chicago.
I enjoyed every minute of listening and reading in kindle and audible.
The story is well told and shows what an impressive tenacious and courageous woman Pam is. Inspiring!
I enjoyed every minute of listening and reading in kindle and audible.
The story is well told and shows what an impressive tenacious and courageous woman Pam is. Inspiring!
June 7, 2020
Interesting Enough
I felt the author told us a story that the “Mirage” investigative reporting happened, and not how it happened. It is in interesting story that is too short on details to draw me in.
I felt the author told us a story that the “Mirage” investigative reporting happened, and not how it happened. It is in interesting story that is too short on details to draw me in.
November 13, 2020
Interesting look at a changing outlook in journalism
The Mirage seems like a slam dunk of a plan. On paper, it definitely offers little to deter making such an idea a reality. Today's litigious world would make that reality a nightmare.
The Mirage seems like a slam dunk of a plan. On paper, it definitely offers little to deter making such an idea a reality. Today's litigious world would make that reality a nightmare.
May 14, 2023
Great short book for free on prime, part of a series of six con artist criminal type books. It's a short read about 1970s Chicago rampant fraud and corruption in the government. The epilogue is just as interesting as the book itself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews