Latin School of Chicago

Jerry Markon '84 For Jerry Markon, the road to a career as a reporter for The Washington Post may well have started as he prepared for his role as prosecutor for Nazi Mind class. Markon's long hours of research for the culminating Nuremburg trial simulation are a vivid memory. "I spent many hours in the stacks of the Chicago Public Library," he recalls. This class in particular ignited the passion for research that is still a major force in Markon's professional life. "Investigative reporting is rigorous, and the intellectual rigor of Latin's classes, with their emphasis on current events and broad world views, fed my own natural interest," he says. As sports editor for the Latin Forum and copy editor for the Roman yearbook, Markon developed editing skills, an attention to detail and the ambition to make writing and editing his future. At the University of Michigan, Markon worked for the student newspaper. After graduation he landed a job at the City News Bureau of Chicago, the legendary incubator of news talent that was once home to Mike Royko and Kurt Vonnegut. From there, he went on to The Memphis Commercial Appeal and then to Columbia University for a master's in International Affairs. Later at Newsday, Markon shared a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the tragedy of TWA Flight 800 and received an Education Writers Association award for his investigative reporting about New York's special education programs. He helped break the Martha Stewart story and cover history-making events including the Unabomber case and the aftermath of September 11, while at The Wall Street Journal. "September 11, 2001, changed everything," he says. "That morning, on my way to the office, I saw the second tower of the World Trade Center fall. The Wall Street Journal's offices were blown up on 9/11." But his reporting continued. This life-changing story and the impressive list of others Markon has covered inspire him and inform his drive to investigate, research and report thoroughly and accurately. Now at The Washington Post, Markon's beat is the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. He spent a month at Guantanamo reporting on the war crimes trial of Osama Bin Laden's driver. Recently, he covered the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Through it all, he continues to be influenced by the lessons learned at Latin about rigor, discipline and critical thinking. He urges young writers to "read everything. It is the single most important thing you can do." That coupled with willingness to do the hard work required to know a subject and the ability to self-edit leads to good writing. Markon urges young reporters to "ask every question under the sun!" Finally, however, Markon acknowledges it is his personal fascination with the events and people he writes about that makes him successful. "It's about curiosity. I just want to know everything," he explains. "Investigative reporting is rigorous, and the intellectual rigor of Latin's classes fed my own natural interest." 38 Latin Magazine

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