This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 25, 2013 - Dear Beaconites -
All eyes were on Washington this week as President Barack Obama took the oath of office and Congress renewed its perennial power struggle over what voters want. Beacon Washington correspondent Rob Koenig walked readers through the new landscape, pointing out key issues and analyzing how St. Louisans might be affected by -- and might shape -- what happens.
On a lighter note, Rob checked out the Twitter habits of our congressional delegation and checked in with University City students who witnessed the ceremony. All in a day's work for our tenacious and versatile Washington correspondent.
News that matters most to St. Louisans is not just news that happens in our region. But reporting intelligently on the connection between Washington and St. Louis requires unusual understanding of both. Rob brings to his work lifelong knowledge of St. Louis, decades of reporting experience in Washington and deep information about key subject matter.
On news in the the national media spotlight, such as the inauguration, Rob finds special St. Louis perspectives and connects St. Louisans' voices to the broader conversation. Perhaps even more important is the work he does after the national spotlight has faded and in the shadows it never finds.
For example, national media swarmed to southeast Missouri in 2011 to watch the Corps of Engineers blow up the Birds Point levee. In the months since, Rob has reported with context and continuity on the debate over federal river policy. Major questions include how to manage the Mississippi River's levees and flood plains and how to use and store the Missouri River's upstream waters.
One of Rob's most memorable articles this year was written in less than four hours on the afternoon of the Newtown shootings. Amid the shock, Rob tackled some key questions -- what might Congress do to address gun violence and why had it not acted for years? Rob's article raised core issues and brought local voices and perspectives to a debate that affects us all.
At a time when many news organizations have scaled back, especially in Washington, the Beacon has stepped up. Maintaining a Washington correspondent takes a remarkable commitment from a newsroom of modest size. But there's too much at stake for St. Louisans to leave national reporting only to national reporters.
Sincerely,
Margie