"The Mirage Takes Shape" - Zay N. Smith and Pamela Zekman - Columbia Journalism Review

"The Sun-Times tavern series exposed city-wide corruption - but raised questions about press ethics. Here, the reporters who wrote the series describe how, and why, their newspaper started pouring shots in the Windy City."

Byline: Zay N. Smith, Pamela Zekman; 1979-09-01; Columbia Journalism Review; pages pp. 53-57

Tags: Chicago Sun-Times, expose, Mirage, Pulitzer board, sting, tavern

"Every editor had his own way of saying: nice idea, but let's get serious. It was time she learned Hoge's way. 'We'd have to budget at least a year ahead for something like that,' he said. 'At least a year.' Zekman slowed the stroll. 'Are you saying . . .?' 'And there are a lot of questions. Entrapment for one. Security. We'd have to go at it very carefully.' 'Are you saying we could actually do it?' 'Let me take a look at the budget. That's where we'd have to start.'

Description:The article is adapted from Smith and Zekman's bookThe Mirage which details their experiences in conceiving and executing the Sun-Times's Mirage tavern sting.

Rights: Copyrighted, used with permission.

Additional Media

Image of what became known as the Mirage Team.

Additional Media

Article in Columbia's Journalism Review titled, "The Mirage Takes Shape." Written by Pamela Zekman and Zay N. Smith.