James B. Steele

James B. Steele (born January 3, 1943) is an American investigative journalist and author. With longtime collaborator Donald L. Barlett he has won two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Magazine Awards and five George Polk Awards during their thirty five years of service at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Time, and Vanity Fair. The duo are frequently referred to as Barlett and Steele.

James B. Steele
Born	(1943-01-03) January 3, 1943 Hutchinson, Kansas
Occupation	Investigative journalist, non-fiction writer
Notable credit(s)	The Philadelphia Inquirer, Time, Vanity Fair, books:Empire: The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes (with Donald L. Barlett), Forevermore: Nuclear Waste in America (with Donald L. Barlett), America: What Went Wrong?(with Donald L. Barlett), America: Who Really Pays the Taxes? (with Donald L. Barlett), America: Who Stole the Dream (with Donald L. Barlett), The Great American Tax Dodge (with Donald L. Barlett), Critical Condition (with Donald L. Barlett).
Spouse(s)	Nancy Steele
Website	http://barlettandsteele.com/index.php

Steele was born in Hutchinson, Kansas and was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and began his career at the Kansas City Times, where he covered politics, labor and urban affairs. In 1970 he joined The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he would begin his collaboration with Barlett.

In a 1972 collaboration for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Steele and Barlett pioneered the use of computers for the analysis of data on violent crimes. Their story, "Auditing the IRS," earned them a Gerald Loeb Special Award in 1975.[1][2] Twenty years later, they co-authored the series America: What Went Wrong? for The Inquirer, which was named as one of the 100 best pieces of journalism of the 20th century by the New York University School of Journalism. Rewritten into book form, America: What Went Wrong? became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. It is one of seven books Steele and Barlett have published. In 1989, he and Barlett won the Pulitzer Prize and the Gerald Loeb Award for Large Newspapers[1] for their reporting on the Tax Reform Act of 1986.[3]

Barlett and Steele left The Philadelphia Inquirer to become editors-at-large at Time Inc. in 1997. While at Time, they won two National Magazine Awards, the first in 1999 for their three-part series, “What Corporate Welfare Costs You," and the second in 2001 for their three-part series in 2000 on campaign finance.[4]

In 2006 Barlett and Steele left Time and were hired by Vanity Fair to be contributing editors on the understanding that they would contribute two articles each year. They were available for this new assignment after Time determined that they had insufficient space for the time of long journalistic investigations. In 2007, Barlett and Steele were featured in the PBS documentary series, Exposé: America's Investigative Reports, in an episode entitled "Friends In High Places."

In January 2017, it was reported that CNN, as part of "a major new initiative in investigative reporting," was hiring Steele along with fellow Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Bernstein as contributing editors, "to advise the team on their work and executives on hiring."[5]

Steele is married and has a daughter. His sister Lisa Steele is a video artist living in Canada.[6]

Books

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1979). Empire: The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes. W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-00025-7.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1985). Forevermore: Nuclear Waste in America. W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-01920-9.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1992). America: What Went Wrong?. Andrews and McMeel. ISBN 0-8362-7001-0.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1994). America: Who Really Pays the Taxes?. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-87157-9.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996). America: Who Stole the Dream?. Andrews and McMeel. ISBN 0-8362-1314-9.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2000). The Great American Tax Dodge: How Spiraling Fraud and Avoidance are Killing Fairness, Destroying the Income Tax, And Costing You. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-81135-1.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2004). Critical Condition: How Health Care in America Became Big Business — and Bad Medicine. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-50454-3.

Newspaper articles

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-10). "How the Influential win Billions in Special Tax Breaks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-10). "The Tax Chairmen Fail to Respond to Queries". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A14.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-10). "A Rich Texas Widow Could Save $4 Million". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A15.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-11). "A Millionaire Businessman and his Island Tax Shelter". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-11). "A Tax Favor for Backer of Conservative Causes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A07.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-12). "How Businesses Influence the Tax-Writing Process". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-13). "Disguising Those who get Tax Breaks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-13). "Investors take over a Vital Atomic Plant a Tax-Saving Strategy Develops". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A10.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-14). "Congress can't add, so the Taxpayer pays". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-14). "The Wall Street star who Started Catalyst Energy". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A18.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-14). "A $4 Billion Price Tag to Stop a Nuclear Plant". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A19.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-15). "One Firm's Huge Break". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-16). "Crusing, at Taxpayers' Expense". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-04-16). "A Big Bailouts for Steel Firms with the Assistance of Heinz". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A07.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-09-25). "The Tax-Break Sweepstakes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-09-25). "The Tax War Between the Chickens and the Pigs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A17.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-09-26). "Family Football Seeks Bonus Through Tax Bill". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1988-09-26). "A Historic Hotel and its Quest for a Tax Cut". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1990-11-04). "A Tax Increase for the Rich that's no Increase at all". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

"America: What Went Wrong?"

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-20). "How the Game was Rigged Against the Middle Class". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-20). "Who -- and how many -- in America's Middle Class". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A16.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-20). "After 3 Decades, American Worker Loses out to Mexico". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A17.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-21). "The Lucrative Business of Bankruptcy". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-22). "Big Business Hits that Jackpot with Billions in Tax Breaks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-23). "Why the World is Closing in on U.S. Economy". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-24). "The High Cost of Deregulation". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-25). "For Millions in U.S., a Harsh Reality". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-25). "How Death came to a Once-Prosperous Discount-Store Chain". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A21.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-26). "Raiders work their Wizardry on an All-American Company". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-27). "When you Retire, Will There be a Pension Waiting?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-27). "Workers Saving for Their Retirement Lose on Junk Bonds". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A17.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1991-10-28). "How Special Interest Groups have their way with Washington". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1992-02-02). "The Politics of Tax Breaks in an Election Year". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

"America: Who Stole the Dream?"

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-08). "How U.S. Policies are Costing America Jobs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-08). "Why the Series Came to be". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A18.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-09). "Importing Goods, Exporting Jobs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-10). "Endangered Label: Made in the USA". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-11). "The "New" American Worker". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-12). "The Burden of the Working Woman". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-15). "Shortcut to U.S. Jobs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-16). "Say Goodbye to High-Tech Jobs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-17). "The Lobbying Game: Influence-Brokers in D.C.". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-18). "One American Industry that Thrives: Retraining". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1996-09-22). "A Nation in Search of Answers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A01.

Magazine articles

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1998-11-09). "States at War". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1998-11-09). "Corporate Welfare". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1998-11-16). "Fantasy Islands". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1998-11-23). "Sweet Deal". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1998-11-23). "Paying a Price for Polluters". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1998-11-30). "The Empire of the Pigs". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (1998-11-30). "Five Ways Out". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2000-02-07). "How the Little Guy Gets Crunched". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2000-02-07). "How to Become a Top Banana". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2000-05-15). "Soaked By Congress". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2000-09-25). "Throwing the Game". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2002-12-16). "Who Gets the Money?". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2002-12-16). "Wheel of Misfortune". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2002-12-23). "Playing the Political Slots". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2003-02-03). "The Really Unfair Tax". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2003-05-19). "The Oily Americans". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2003-05-19). "Iraq's Crude Awakening". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2003-07-21). "The U.S. is Running Out of Energy". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2003-10-13). "The Great Energy Scam". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2003-10-13). "Asleep at the Switch". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2004-02-02). "Why We Pay So Much for Drugs". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2004-02-02). "Has Your Life Become Too Much a Game of Chance?". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2004-09-20). "Who Left the Door Open?". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2005-10-23). "The Broken Promise". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (2005-10-31). "Where Pensions are Golden". Time.

Barlett, Donald L.; Steele, James B. (March 2007). "Washington's $8 Billion Shadow". Vanity Fair.

References

1. "Historical Winners List". UCLA Anderson School of Management. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
2. "Royster wins Loeb Award for financial journalism". The New York Times. September 25, 1975. p. 64. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
3. Smith, Rosslyn (16 August 2010). "Two Cheers for Old-Fashioned Political Scoundrels". American Thinker. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
4. "Donald Barlett and James Steele: Career Timeline". Investigating Power. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
5. Folkenflik, David (2017-01-30). "CNN Beefs Up Investigative Reporting". NPR.org. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
6. "Lisa's long haul". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2017-03-18.

External links

• Don Barlett and Jim Steele's website
• Barlett & Steele Awards for Investigative Business Journalism
• Terry Gross's interview about gambling on reservations with Barlett & Steele on NPR's Fresh Air (16 December 2002)
• Terry Gross's interview "The Big Business of Health Care" with Barlett & Steele on NPR's Fresh Air (6 October 2004)
• Exposé:"Friends in High Places" on PBS (July 2007)
• Liberadio(!) Interview with Don Barlett (12 February 2007)
• Appearances on C-SPAN
  • In Depth interview with Barlett and Steele, January 6, 2013