Pete DeCoursey
Encyclopedia
Peter L. DeCoursey is a prominent reporter of political news in Pennsylvania.
DeCoursey worked as a press secretary for U.S. Rep. Bob Borski, D-Philadelphia, from late 1987 to late 1990, and for Philadelphia City Council
for most of 1987. He first became a full-time reporter for the Reading Eagle-Times, in Reading, Pennsylvania
in August 1990, leaving there to join The Patriot-News in March 1997. He worked as a political reporter and columnist for The Patriot-News
in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
from 1997 to 2005 before being hired by GovNetPA to produce original news content for Capitolwire.com. He currently works as bureau chief of Capitolwire. He appeared on Public Radio International's
Whad'Ya Know
in 2005 and CNN's
Capital Gang
in 2004. He also appeared on Inside Politics on CNN in October 2004 He was first to report the 2011 proposal by Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, with the support of Gov. Tom Corbett, to change Pennsylvania from a winner-take-all electoral vote system, to a system that awards electoral votes by congressional district. On Sept. 16, writing of that proposal, papolitics.com wrote Sept. 16: "DeCoursey broke that news – the biggest non-presidential story of the summer – last Thursday." The New York Times, Washington Post, Politico and others followed that story.
In 2003, an article in the Lancaster Sunday News speculated that DeCoursey and Charlie Thompson
, both then reporters for the Patriot-News, were operating the political website PoliticsPA
under a pseudonym. DeCoursey and Thompson both denied any involvement in the site, and Adams later wrote a correction.
In 2005, he was named one of "Pennsylvania's Most Influential Reporters" by the Pennsylvania political news website PoliticsPA
. In 2008, the political website PolitickerPA.com named him one of the "Most Powerful Political Reporters" in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Report
named him to the 2009 "The Pennsylvania Report 100" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics and noted that his Capitolwire
briefing is a "must read for all legislators, staff members, and lobbyists in the state capital
," even if it is controversial due to DeCoursey's "attack dog reputation and his sometimes one-sided comments." He was named to the PoliticsPA
list of "Sy Snyder's Power 50" list of influential individuals in Pennsylvania politics in 2002.
During the 2000 presidential election
, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge
was known to be under consideration as the running mate
for Republican George W. Bush
. DeCoursey and fellow journalist Albert J. Neri
began planning a book about Ridge and contracted with an agent to pursue a book deal in the event that he was selected. After Ridge withdrew his name from consideration, both Neri and DeCoursey wrote columns blasting Ridge for pretending to be a candidate after he had withdrawn his name from consideration three weeks before announcing it. Both contrasted that behavior with Ridge's well-deserved general reputation for honesty. Tim Reeves, Ridge's press secretary
said that the situation was a "journalistic conflict of interest." Veteran Philadelphia Inquirer editor and journalism professor at Pennsylvania State University
Gene Foreman agreed, noting that the book deal was not disclosed and that the two columns seemed "particularly personal" and contained "pretty extraordinary" language. In return, the editors of both newspapers that had carried the columns noted that they were aware of the book project and the Patriot-News consulted with Bob Steele of The Poynter Institute, who said there was no reason to disclose the potential book to readers. The incident was covered in the American Journalism Review
.
DeCoursey worked as a press secretary for U.S. Rep. Bob Borski, D-Philadelphia, from late 1987 to late 1990, and for Philadelphia City Council
Philadelphia City Council
The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number...
for most of 1987. He first became a full-time reporter for the Reading Eagle-Times, in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
in August 1990, leaving there to join The Patriot-News in March 1997. He worked as a political reporter and columnist for The Patriot-News
The Patriot-News
The Patriot-News is the largest daily newspaper serving the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania metropolitan area. In 2005, the newspaper was ranked in the top 100 in daily/Sunday circulation in the United States...
in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
from 1997 to 2005 before being hired by GovNetPA to produce original news content for Capitolwire.com. He currently works as bureau chief of Capitolwire. He appeared on Public Radio International's
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
Whad'Ya Know
Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?
Whad'Ya Know? is an American comedy, interview, and quiz radio show. Hosted by Michael Feldman, it was created in 1985. It is produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and distributed weekly by Public Radio International...
in 2005 and CNN's
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Capital Gang
Capital Gang
Capital Gang was a weekly political talk show on CNN. It aired on Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. ET.The original panel was Pat Buchanan, Robert Novak, Al Hunt, and Mark Shields. Mona Charen and Margaret Warner joined the panel in 1992, when Buchanan left the show to run for president in 1992...
in 2004. He also appeared on Inside Politics on CNN in October 2004 He was first to report the 2011 proposal by Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, with the support of Gov. Tom Corbett, to change Pennsylvania from a winner-take-all electoral vote system, to a system that awards electoral votes by congressional district. On Sept. 16, writing of that proposal, papolitics.com wrote Sept. 16: "DeCoursey broke that news – the biggest non-presidential story of the summer – last Thursday." The New York Times, Washington Post, Politico and others followed that story.
In 2003, an article in the Lancaster Sunday News speculated that DeCoursey and Charlie Thompson
Charlie Thompson (reporter)
Charlie Thompson is a prominent journalist in Pennsylvania, working for The Patriot-News.In 2003, an article in the Lancaster Sunday News speculated that Thompson and Pete DeCoursey, both then reporters for the Patriot-News, were operating the political website PoliticsPA under a...
, both then reporters for the Patriot-News, were operating the political website PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
under a pseudonym. DeCoursey and Thompson both denied any involvement in the site, and Adams later wrote a correction.
In 2005, he was named one of "Pennsylvania's Most Influential Reporters" by the Pennsylvania political news website PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
. In 2008, the political website PolitickerPA.com named him one of the "Most Powerful Political Reporters" in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Report
Pennsylvania Report
The Pennsylvania Report is an independent bi-weekly subscription-based political newspaper published in Pennsylvania. It is "widely read by the state's political junkies." It was founded in 1985 by David Buffington, a former public relations worker for the Pennsylvania Government.It provides...
named him to the 2009 "The Pennsylvania Report 100" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics and noted that his Capitolwire
Capitolwire
Capitolwire is a prominent online subscription-based news service focusing on issues relating to politics and government in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives hold a contract with GovNetPA to supply access to Capitolwire for $600 per year for over 40 selected staff...
briefing is a "must read for all legislators, staff members, and lobbyists in the state capital
Pennsylvania State Capitol
The Pennsylvania State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is in downtown Harrisburg. It was designed in 1902 in a Beaux-Arts style with Renaissance themes throughout...
," even if it is controversial due to DeCoursey's "attack dog reputation and his sometimes one-sided comments." He was named to the PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
list of "Sy Snyder's Power 50" list of influential individuals in Pennsylvania politics in 2002.
During the 2000 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge
Tom Ridge
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...
was known to be under consideration as the running mate
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
for Republican George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. DeCoursey and fellow journalist Albert J. Neri
Albert J. Neri
Albert J. "Al" Neri was a Pennsylvania political news correspondent, pundit, and political analyst.At the beginning of his career, Neri worked as a journalist following state and local government and politics for a variety of publications, including Erie Times-News, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the...
began planning a book about Ridge and contracted with an agent to pursue a book deal in the event that he was selected. After Ridge withdrew his name from consideration, both Neri and DeCoursey wrote columns blasting Ridge for pretending to be a candidate after he had withdrawn his name from consideration three weeks before announcing it. Both contrasted that behavior with Ridge's well-deserved general reputation for honesty. Tim Reeves, Ridge's press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
said that the situation was a "journalistic conflict of interest." Veteran Philadelphia Inquirer editor and journalism professor at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
Gene Foreman agreed, noting that the book deal was not disclosed and that the two columns seemed "particularly personal" and contained "pretty extraordinary" language. In return, the editors of both newspapers that had carried the columns noted that they were aware of the book project and the Patriot-News consulted with Bob Steele of The Poynter Institute, who said there was no reason to disclose the potential book to readers. The incident was covered in the American Journalism Review
American Journalism Review
The American Journalism Review is a U.S. magazine covering topics in journalism. It is published six times a year by the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park. The AJR has been owned since the late 1980s by a foundation of the university...
.