In the realms of journalism, Robert Jordan, a retired WGN anchor and one of Chicago’s most prolific news anchors, presents a gripping exploration into the intricacies of crime reporting on television in his 2017 book’s publication, “Murder in the News: An Inside Look at How Television Covers Crime.”
Embarking on his television career, Jordan’s television career began in the early 1970s as a general assignment reporter for WGN-TV while working towards a bachelor’s degree at Roosevelt University. In the late 70s, he worked for CBS, covering stories throughout the Midwest for the Evening News with Walter Cronkite.
Jordan is also an NEIU alumni, who graduated with a master’s degree in speech in 1994. He served as co-anchor of the weekend edition of WGN News at Nine alongside Jackie Bange from 1995 until his retirement in 2016.
One of the key takeaways from the book was Jordan’s keen observations of how some of the most high-profile news stories have often overshadowed equally significant narratives that languish in obscurity.
In the book’s preface, Jordan describes his 1994 coverage of disgraced congressman Melvin “Mel” Reynolds’ indictment. *After allegations surfaced that he had an affair with a 16-year- old political campaign worker, he was charged on sexual assault, statutory rape and child pornography. .
As Jordan waited to ambush and ask Reynolds about the indictment, Reynolds was approached by a woman. The woman assumed Jordan was there to cover a story about three young boys who were shot the day before.
When Jordan revealed why he was there, the woman said, “To hell with Mel Reynolds… The shooting of our three young boys is a much more important story.”
The preface sets the tone for the book, which delves into how sensationalist stories, such as the indictment against Reynolds, dominate the headlines daily while other important stories receive little to no media coverage.
Jordan’s narrative skillfully weaves through his 47-year career in journalism with poignant examples like the 1995 murders of Deborah Evans and her two young children. At the time, Evans was nine months pregnant with Laverne Ward’s son. Ward, his cousin Jacqueline Williams and her boyfriend Fedell Caffey stabbed all three to death to extract the baby from Evans’ womb.
Through Jordan’s unique lens, he drew on his experiences from the US Army to vividly depict the chilling final moments of Deborah Evans’ life, a decision that was well-received by viewers of WGN-TV.
From the perspective of a news writer and editor, the book pulls the reader in so quickly, especially when Jordan lists some common terms in newsrooms—producer, reporter, anchor, top story and breaking news. This book resonates not only with journalists and newswriters but also with true crime enthusiasts.
Jordan, with five decades of experience, initiates an honest discussion about the subjective nature of crime newsworthiness.
“Murder in the News: An Inside Look at How Television Covers Crime” beckons readers into the riveting world of crime reporting and is available for purchase on Amazon.
