The Voice of Local Utah

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Cronyism and Corruption in Utah: Investigative Journalist Eric Peterson

In this episode of the Utah Stories Show, we talk with Eric Peterson, the Executive Director of The Utah Investigative Journalism Project about statewide corruption, taking Cottonwood Heights and Utah state Senate as perfect examples. 

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Richard Markosian

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Eric Peterson is the Executive Director of The Utah Investigative Journalism Project. Eric has been an investigative journalist, private detective, and writer for over 10 years.

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Eric’s passion is uncovering the truth when greater powers are attempting to hide their corruption and misdeeds. He has no fear to point out inconsistencies in people who consider themselves honorable and praiseworthy. Most recently, he reported for Utah Stories on conflict of interests involving State Senate president, now retired, Senator Wayne Niederhauser.
In this episode of the Utah Stories Show, we talk about statewide corruption, taking Cottonwood Heights and Utah state Senate as perfect examples. We also discuss the Utah phenomenon of many of the leaders of our state legislature being developers and the role special interests play in making campaign donations to lawmakers.
We talk about the challenges of investigative journalism and point out that journalism when it’s produced in its greatest form, is the greatest counterbalance to corruption and cronyism.

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Richard Markosian

I am a story teller and journalist. I have a passion for farmers, local craftspeople, and folks who aspire to create, build and grow their business in the local marketplace. Why local? By supporting locally-owned businesses we create more opportunity for entrepreneurs, and we claim our sovereignty to shape our communities how we want to see them. I aspire to build Utah Stories Magazine into a household Utah name, and assist Utah businesses and makers with marketing. On the journalism side of things my passion is investigative journalism that offers true insight into issues. I believe strongly in the forth estate: strong, meaningful, insightful journalism is essential to a free market Democracy.

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