Wendy Ruderman Is Going to City Hall

After the last couple of years, Daily News writer Wendy Ruderman could’ve gone Hollywood: She won a Pulitzer, went to the New York Times, came back again, co-wrote a well-received book, and soon will see a TV show based on her exploits with reporting partner Barbara Laker and starring Sarah Jessica Parker.

Now she’s headed to City Hall.

Gar Joseph, the Daily News’ assistant managing editor, confirmed Friday that Ruderman will join the city beat after the November election. The details of the assignment are still being worked out, he said, but “it’s something we’re talking about and something I’m pretty excited about.”

“I think the change and the challenge will be good for me,” Ruderman said. “But I’d rather fling myself off of Billy Penn’s head than write boring, bureaucratic stories that make readers scratch their heads, and I don’t mean that as indictment of any City Hall reporter, past or present. I just hope to come up with interesting, colorful stories that inform readers and best case scenario, create a little stir.”

Ruderman won the Pulitzer with Laker for their work on the “Tainted Justice” series of stories about police corruption. She had been openly contemplating a change in direction after the Inquirer published its August takedown of the reporting the duo did on their prize-winning series. (The pair and the paper have fiercely defended the series and their reporting.) Joseph said the City Hall beat was in need of an infusion of talent after several reporters in the beat had moved onto media markets in recent years: Sean Walsh, Jan Ransom, and Catherine Lucey all worked the beat before leaving town.

Joseph said Ruderman won’t be “exclusive” to City Hall, and that she’ll still link up with Laker for  assignments on occasion.

“I think it underlines the commitment we have to investigative reporting,” he said. “Even as staff has shrunk, that’ll probably be the last thing we give up.”

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