Marie comes to the BGA after a 12-year run on the Chicago Tribune editorial board, including three as deputy editor. She led the editorial board’s writing on redistricting and the Chicago Police Department consent decree, has been a staunch advocate for expanding our rights under FOIA, and has written incisively about the causes and consequences of corruption in Illinois government.
Her colleagues in Chicago and nationwide have honored Marie’s work. Her editorials have earned national awards from the American Society of Newspaper Editors and Sigma Delta Chi. Her calls for police oversight after the shooting of Laquan McDonald won three consecutive Lisagor Awards from the Chicago Headline Club. Marie and two Tribune editorial board colleagues were Pulitzer finalists for their coverage of Rod Blagojevich’s corruption.
“We are pleased to welcome Marie to the BGA. Her profound knowledge of the legislature and passion for policy reform here in Illinois will help propel the BGA’s policy work into a new era. Marie is also committed to the high journalistic integrity for which the BGA is so well known. She will serve as the perfect conduit for the policy advocacy arm of the BGA’s work,” said BGA President and CEO David Greising.
A graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University, Marie was a metro editor at the Tribune before joining the newspaper’s editorial board. She served previous leadership roles at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald, and other newspapers.
Marie is known as a collaborative colleague, an effective recruiter and mentor, and someone who abides by the highest standards of journalism and advocacy. She has a broad-minded view of the importance of transparent, efficient and accountable government, and has what it takes to help expand the BGA’s impact as an effective and influential leader on behalf of good government in Illinois.
“I’ve always admired the work of the BGA in the Chicago community. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside BGA investigators and civic advocates to shine a light on government and hold our public officials accountable,” remarked Dillon.
Together with the rest of the policy team, Dillon plans to analyze government at all levels in Illinois and amplify our push for more transparency, accountability, honesty, fairness and efficiency through the BGA website, our advocacy and civic engagement efforts, and our multi-media and face-to-face audience engagement activities.
The Better Government Association is a non-partisan, nonprofit news organization and civic advocate working for transparency, efficiency and accountability in government in Chicago and across Illinois.
