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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson abruptly ended a meeting with the city’s leading newspapers this week after refusing to go on the record.
The Chicago Sun-Times published a scathing report on Tuesday about the frosty relationship between Democrats and the City Hall press corps, arguing that the “honeymoon” between Democrats and the media since taking office last year is over.
The Sun-Times reported, “The City Hall press corps has become hostile, openly frustrated with a mayor who is rarely approachable and evasive when asked.” “The newspaper’s editorials are critical and at times derogatory, while portraying Mr Johnson as being in over his head.”
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson abruptly ended a conversation with the Chicago Sun-Times after refusing to speak off the record with the editorial board. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The Sun-Times later revealed that Johnson had withdrawn from a scheduled meeting with the paper’s editorial board in what was supposed to be an “apparent effort to turn things around” in relations with the news organization.
“But Monday’s meeting ended abruptly after Johnson and board members introduced themselves, after press secretary Ronnie Reese insisted the entire meeting be taken off the record.” Lorraine Forte, Editor of the Op-Ed Page refused to accept these unprecedented terms. Mr. Johnson allowed Mr. Reese to make the following claims: “He did not say anything until after he ended the Zoom session,” the Sun-Times reported. Reported.
Forte told Fox News Digital that on-the-record meetings with editorial boards are the “default mode.”
“I look forward to arranging a date with Mayor Johnson in the near future to discuss our plans for Chicago on the record,” Forte said.
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The Chicago Sun-Times slammed Johnson’s handling of the media, saying, “It’s clearly time for a course correction.” (Uccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The Sun-Times report cites a “bizarre press conference” Johnson held last week in which he announced plans to end the city’s ShotSpotter contract and addressed the city’s immigration crisis. He was questioned about his refusal to provide $70 million to support the government. The paper said he dodged “yes” or “no” questions and indicated he did not answer.
“It may be a yes or no question for you, but I respectfully ask that you ask the question and allow me to answer the question in any way I wish. .I don’t dictate the questions, so please don’t dictate how I answer the questions,” Johnson said at a press conference.
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has come under intense scrutiny over the city’s response to the immigration crisis. (Jamie Kelter Davis/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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The Sun-Times reported that, entering the Johnson administration, the relationship between Chicago’s mayor and the press was “not likely to do anything but improve” following the ouster of Lori Lightfoot, who “got into an argument with the City Hall press corps and threatened to disband it. I had nowhere to go,” he suggested. Around them, she made national headlines by restricting her midterm interviews to reporters of color. ”
“By contrast, the likable Mr. Johnson looked like Mr. Congeniality’s candidate. But Mr. Johnson appears to have quickly exhausted his reserves of goodwill,” the Sun-Times wrote. “Mr Johnson sometimes won’t take questions from reporters for weeks at a time. When he finally does, his answers sound like campaign rhetoric. It’s clearly time for a course correction.”
Mayor Johnson’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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