Dirk Vanderhart Email & Phone Number

Portland, Oregon Area

Portland, Oregon Area

Focusing on City Hall, the city’s homelessness and housing crisis, and criminal justice issues, it’s my job to beat the competition with daily scoops and quick, reported analysis for the web, while working up longer enterprise pieces for the weekly print edition. I also edit the remainder of the news section, organize and lead the Mercury’s political.

Portland, Oregon Area

Portland, Oregon

From profiling a flagging horse track to tailing garbage trucks at 4 a.m. to chronicling the aftermath of a mass shooting, I’ve pitched stories and accepted assignments on a wide range of issues. My freelance work has appeared in the The Oregonian, The New York Times, and The Grand Rapids Press.

Springfield, Missouri

There is no shortage of appalling crimes and compelling trials in southwest Missouri. I covered them, but was most intrigued by the inefficiencies plaguing the local justice system. One example: a three-part series detailing how wanted fugitives are, in most cases, never pursued.Routinely broke stories by scouring case filings, examining search warrants.

Washington, D.C.

Covered national politics in Washington, D.C., for readers in Texas, delving into issues like chemical plant security and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Grew expert at pursuing politicians down crowded hallways.

East Lansing, Michigan

Worked as Opinion page editor, politics reporter, projects reporter and copy editor for Michigan State University's student newspaper.

Columbus, Ohio

As part of the paper’s Science Team, I chronicled the devastating effect of the Emerald Ash Borer on the state’s ash trees.Through a mix of assigned stories and enterprise, I routinely supplied front-page stories and section centerpieces on exploding apartment complexes, scrap metal theft and more.

Detroit, Michigan

I produced stories for respected the business weekly, as well as three affiliated news Web sites.In addition, I contributed extensive research to a project on compensation at Michigan nonprofits, delving into hundreds of IRS documents to suss out executive compensation and other figures.