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Thomas Hargrove, BJ '77

What was your first job, and how did you get it?
My first job was at the Birmingham (Ala.) Post-Herald. Angus McEachran, the editor, came to Missouri looking for young talent because of the School's reputation and cheap, young talent.

What advantages did a Missouri journalism degree give you?
Missouri is usually ranked among the best journalism schools. Teachers like George Kennedy encouraged journalists to take courses outside their field. For example, I took some political science courses and did some public opinion research because my professors encouraged that.

What is your favorite memory of Missouri?
I really enjoyed being an undergrad. Missouri is a very serious school and a world-class public university. I guess I just really enjoyed the journalism school. I knew before I came into school I wanted to be a journalist. I grew up on that campus. The professors are a really great memory too. Most of them didn't have to be there. For example, George Kennedy wanted to be a professor, but he always had a job waiting for him at the Miami (Fla.) Herald.

What do you like most about your current job?
I am currently in the job I dreamt of having my whole life. I'm the computer-assisted reporting guru for Scripps Howard. I get to do pretty much whatever I want. I've got a national poll to play with. But there are empty desks in my newsroom. I realize I'm at the top of a pretty shaky building. I keep thinking something's going to happen where I'll have to grow up. Don't tell anyone; I don't want them to know how happy I am!

What is your favorite computer-assisted reporting project?
In 2004, I investigated the mechanics of voting and earned the nickname "Captain Democracy." I created a database of presidential elections where votes disappear. It was apparent the numbers didn't add up. I convinced my editors to let me go to Pulaski County, a rural county in southern Illinois, to investigate the results of the 2002 gubernatorial election. It became apparent the voters didn't have a clue how to use the punch card ballots, and the people counting them didn't know how to either. In Pulaski County, nearly 4 percent of the votes were lost. The story, MISCOUNT: Democracy's hidden flaws, was a finalist for the 2005 IRE awards. The end result of that was some election reforms that reduced the number of ballots that failed to count in the 2004 presidential election. I also worked on an investigative series, MISSING: Children at risk, that found that dozens of police departments violated federal laws about accurately reporting missing children. Many police departments changed their procedures because of the stories.

What is one thing people don't know about you?
My wife and I adopted a former Russian orphan - Alexey - my son. People say he looks like me and assume we're related, but we aren't. Journalists have to remember family and take time out to live life. There are way too many single journalists out there.