Bad City is a wonderful example of a true crime story that pushes crime fiction down the ladder a rung or two. Thanks to the author, Paul Pringle, a coverup of massive proportions was exposed along with the subsequent extensive wrongdoing at the highest levels by the University of Southern California. Corruption is the word of the day throughout the book as Pringle crosses swords with USC, LA law enforcement, and his own bosses at The Los Angeles Times.
The amazing true story begins with a tip to the Times from a hotel employee who was called to the hotel room of the dean of the University of Southern California Kirk Medical School, Dr. Carmen Puliafito, who was with an unconscious drugged young woman, years his junior. 911 and the police were called by the hotel worker. He expected as some point to hear or read what had happened to the woman, and if the dean faced any criminal charges. When no information surfaced, the employee decided to contact the LA Times with what he witnessed, and Pringle, sensing a big story, immediately began his investigation and later, a frustrating struggle with his bosses to get the story published.
In incredible detail Pringle provides us with a textbook example of going where the story takes you. The national reputation of the medical school dean and his ability to bring millions of research dollars annually to USC leads to administrators at USC minimizing the university’s involvement and law enforcement seemingly putting a lid on their less than thorough investigation. Interestingly, it was the dean’s drug using victims that kept the story moving. Unfortunately, regardless of the evidence and incontrovertible facts that Pringle put in front of the Times brass they kept delaying publishing the story and tried to get Pringle to soften his story. Why, because USC is a major advertiser for the Times.
The original story shockingly leads to additional scandals at USC that have been publicly exposed. USC’s president alleged misconduct resulting in his leaving, a gynecologist in the student health center who took compromising and explicit photos for decades of young, mostly Asian students and thankfully has been criminally charged, the university's admissions office admitting unqualified children of wealthy donors, and various sports teams coaches caught falsifying records to obtain bribes from wealthy alums/donors anxious to get their children into USC.
Investigative journalists, unfortunately a dying breed as print newspapers are financially challenged these days, provide a important role in our society. Bad City is a prime example of the Fourth Estate keeping us informed of the wrongdoing that can be found in prestigious universities, businesses, and law enforcement. The book should be required reading in all basic journalism classes.
The amazing true story begins with a tip to the Times from a hotel employee who was called to the hotel room of the dean of the University of Southern California Kirk Medical School, Dr. Carmen Puliafito, who was with an unconscious drugged young woman, years his junior. 911 and the police were called by the hotel worker. He expected as some point to hear or read what had happened to the woman, and if the dean faced any criminal charges. When no information surfaced, the employee decided to contact the LA Times with what he witnessed, and Pringle, sensing a big story, immediately began his investigation and later, a frustrating struggle with his bosses to get the story published.
In incredible detail Pringle provides us with a textbook example of going where the story takes you. The national reputation of the medical school dean and his ability to bring millions of research dollars annually to USC leads to administrators at USC minimizing the university’s involvement and law enforcement seemingly putting a lid on their less than thorough investigation. Interestingly, it was the dean’s drug using victims that kept the story moving. Unfortunately, regardless of the evidence and incontrovertible facts that Pringle put in front of the Times brass they kept delaying publishing the story and tried to get Pringle to soften his story. Why, because USC is a major advertiser for the Times.
The original story shockingly leads to additional scandals at USC that have been publicly exposed. USC’s president alleged misconduct resulting in his leaving, a gynecologist in the student health center who took compromising and explicit photos for decades of young, mostly Asian students and thankfully has been criminally charged, the university's admissions office admitting unqualified children of wealthy donors, and various sports teams coaches caught falsifying records to obtain bribes from wealthy alums/donors anxious to get their children into USC.
Investigative journalists, unfortunately a dying breed as print newspapers are financially challenged these days, provide a important role in our society. Bad City is a prime example of the Fourth Estate keeping us informed of the wrongdoing that can be found in prestigious universities, businesses, and law enforcement. The book should be required reading in all basic journalism classes.