David Cay Johnston
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Reporter & Author
David Cay Johnston, long one of America’s top investigative reporters…..
Categories :
Full Bio
David Cay Johnston, long one of America’s top investigative reporters, engages audiences with his tales of the people who are reshaping our economy and his simple explanations of how government taps your pocketbook.
Johnston joined The New York Times in 1995 and in 2001 won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the US tax code. He has been a finalist for the Pulitzer three other times since 2000. His book Free Lunch reveals government policies that subtly take from the many to enrich the few, including Warren Buffett, Donald Trump, George Steinbrenner, and the Walton, Hilton, and Cabela families. Free Lunch also shows how government policy leaves college graduates drowning in debt, while lenders make triple the profits of commercial banks. Further, he exposes hidden subsidies to General Electric, Tyco, Honeywell, and other major companies that help criminals get away.
His best-selling book Perfectly Legal was chosen Book of the Year in 2004 by his peers at Investigative Reporters and Editors. Perfectly Legal is used as a text on campuses from Harvard to the University of Southern California, and Congress has enacted five laws addressing abuses exposed in Perfectly Legal. His work prompted the only major tax policy change by President Bush, who dropped a stealth plan to give a quarter trillion dollar tax cut to the richest Americans. Johnston also revealed how the very highest income Americans received a much bigger tax cut under President Clinton than from all of the Bush tax cuts combined. In 1992, Johnston wrote Temples of Chance, accurately predicting the spread of legalized gambling and how regulation would protect casino owners rather than gamblers.
His newest book is The Fine Print: How Big Companies Use “Plain English” to Rob You Blind, which explores how huge corporations hide stipulations in almost every contract—often with government permission.
During 12 years at The Los Angeles Times, Johnston was the first reporter to seriously examine the Los Angeles Police Department, exposing its brutality, inefficiency, and ineffectiveness. He once hunted down a murderer, winning freedom for an innocent man who was tried five times for the crime. While at The Philadelphia Inquirer, he broke the story that Donald Trump had a negative net worth.
Johnston began his journalism career at 17 in Santa Cruz, California. By age 19, he was a staff writer at The San Jose Mercury, where he covered anti-war radicals, black politics, and land development. As an investigative reporter at The Detroit Free Press, his reporting on news blackouts and manipulations resulted in government forcing out the owners of six television and radio broadcast stations.
Johnston lectures on topics such as how Enron and other large corporations got away with not paying taxes and how government policy helps the well-connected benefit at your expense.
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!
LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!
MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!
SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
The Fine Print: How Big Companies Use “Plain English” to Rob You Blind
Incomes: How Government Policies Affect How Much You Make
Pocketbook Stories of the Rich and Famous: From Bill Gates to the Millionaire Next Door
Why Adam Smith Would Be Aghast at How “Deregulation” Has Remade the American Economy
Videos
David Cay Johnston, "The Making of Donald Trump"
David Cay Johnston: The Big Cheat
News
Testimonials
GET IDEAS
1 HOUR OR LESS
