David Cay Johnston: A Pursuit of Justice in Journalism

As a high school senior in Santa Cruz, California, David Cay Johnston sat in on a school board meeting, listening in on standard discussions about property taxes. Where others saw routine numbers, Johnston identified an opportunity. Despite his inexperience, Johnston took the initiative to transform property tax data into an index, informing locals about impending tax increases.

This early example of Johnston’s attention to detail and unconventional thinking set the stage for a career dedicated to uncovering misconduct in public life. Johnston’s research and conscientiousness led him to prominent positions at The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and other respected publications.

Approach to Journalism and Education

Johnston’s approach to reporting on the ground emphasizes making convoluted legal jargon understandable to the public.

“I take these really complicated issues that the people involved with them do not want mere mortals to understand, and I figure out how to make them understandable to ordinary people,” explained Johnston.

His ability to critique the conventional narrative and find stories hidden beneath the surface quickly set him apart in the world of investigative journalism. Johnston’s fieldwork has resulted in numerous accomplishments, including the acquittal of Compton native Tony Cooks and a 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting, which he earned for exposing deeply-ingrained inequalities in the U.S. tax system. Over his career, Johnston has also authored eight books, including works on controversial figures such as former President Donald Trump.

After teaching part-time at Syracuse University’s College of Law for 15 years, Johnston joined RIT’s College of Liberal Arts as a full-time professor of practice this fall. He teaches law, public policy and journalism, including an Introduction to Journalism course. Johnston’s choice to teach at RIT reflects an appreciation of the university’s innovative spirit and commitment to applied learning.

“[RIT] is a real happening place. RIT's moving up in the world. I've seen it for the last 31 years, and I wanted to teach full time [here],” stated Johnston.

Despite never acquiring a post-secondary degree — though he completed university-level coursework for eight years — Johnston acquired an expert-level understanding of various subjects through hands-on experience. His investigative style, built on analyzing the data at hand and speaking with people directly affected by issues, now informs his teaching philosophy.

“I hope to open students’ eyes to things that they wouldn't see in most courses because, just as I wasn't trained as a journalist, I wasn't trained as an academic. So I do things differently,” expressed Johnston.

Johnston stresses the importance of stimulating class debate and discussion. He believes it is more valuable for his students to understand guiding principles and theories than to focus solely on mechanics.

Current Challenges and Legacy

Johnston remains focused on contemporary issues, notably the growing influence of foreign powers on the American government, the undermining of democracy and the political rise of Donald Trump. He believes these issues, particularly the latter, reflect fundamental issues in American politics.

“I think Donald Trump, having torn off the veneer, has shown that there is a whole lot of ugly racism all over the place, and it's deeply, deeply embedded in society,” Johnston remarked.

Looking ahead, Johnston is developing a legacy project — a book that devises a new tax code for the United States. This project represents the culmination of his life’s work and aims to address systemic issues uncovered throughout his career.

Reflecting on his own career, Johnston offered some valuable advice for journalists.

“I quickly figured out that there were two kinds of reporters: there were reporters who came to work and were told what to do, and there were reporters who came to work and told the editors what they were going to do. And I wanted to be in [the second] category.”

Johnston’s words reflect the spirit of his work — a commitment to charting one’s own path and seeking out stories often omitted from the standard narrative.