Civil Beat sent out an email blast this morning running down their Top Ten Projects for 2022.
“Any one of these projects would be too laborious or costly for many local newsrooms, and that’s why Civil Beat is a dream job for so many of us,” wrote newsletter editor Courtney Teague. “Our leaders are committed to in-depth reporting that gives voice to the voiceless and makes our islands even better places to call home.”
And #5 of their Top Ten list is “The Miske Files,” described as “a long-running reader favorite for good reason.”
“Nothing gets past veteran investigative reporter Ian Lind,” Teague wrote. “He’s doggedly covered the notorious organized crime case against Honolulu businessman Michael J. Miske for five years, leaving no court document unearthed and taking readers along for every twist and turn.”
Civil Beat’s Mike Miske Organized Crime Case list includes 45 stories published so far, and I’ve written about 35 of them, with more to come.
I try to push my major stories to Civil Beat first so that they get wider distribution, while reserving background and additional details to this blog.
In any case, I appreciate the Civil Beat nod of approval.
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I had a personal experience and encounter with Mike Miske and some of his crew and was followed home from a Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board Meeting and was so happy to see this coverage. This was was the unthinkable…high level organized crime in Hawaii Kai. Almost surreal to think about it now.
Miske – True example of investigative reporting that only the “seasoned” writer can accomplish. Jim Dooley and ilk: no longer hired by mainstream media. Wire services simply parrot the party lines.
There are lots of shady dealings going on ‘round this town. As an example – CB would up their mojo If they supported an investigation into campaign coffers that got current candidates elected. Lots of pay to play, that gives short shrift to long term economic health here in islands.
Congratulations, Ian. The fact that work such as yours would be “too laborious or costly” for the Star-Advertiser is testimony to the precarious state of journalism not only in Hawai`i, but throughout the US today. Civil Beat has major independent funding while apparently the closest the Star-Advertiser can come to such investigative work is when a project is co-funded by ProPublica, which itself is the beneficiary of major funding by the Ford and MacArthur Foundations, Pew Charitable Trusts and others. Even the venerable Washington Post was in a precarious state before Jeff Bezos (net worth over $100 billion) stepped in and bought it. As I suppose most of your readers know, a huge number of large and small newspapers across the country have disappeared during the past few decades. We are comparatively lucky here…but who knows for how long?
Well deserved, so awesome Mr. Lind!
I consider myself lucky to be ‘in on’ this case! It’s compelling reading. Sadly, non-fiction. We thank you Ian for your wonderful research and writings.