Pam Zekman is an American journalist best known for playing Investigative Reporter in Mirage Tavern Investigation.
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Best Known For:Mirage Tavern Investigation
Breakthrough:Finished fifth in junior ladies singles at the United States Figure Skating Championships in 1961
10 Quick Facts About Pam Zekman
- Full Name: Pam Zekman
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Journalist and reporter
- Known For: Mirage Tavern Investigation
- Date of Birth: October 22, 1944
- Age: 82 years old
- Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois
- Popular As: Pamela Zekman
- Specialization: Investigative Journalist, Reporter, and Journalist
- Beats: Investigations and Crime / Public Safety
Pam Zekman Age
Pam Zekman is about 82 years old as of 2026. Pam Zekman was born in 1944.
Education
Her educational background includes studies at University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and University of California, Berkeley.
- University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
- Period: Graduated 1961
- University of California, Berkeley
Career & Work
Pam Zekman's career includes news and reporting roles with WBBM-TV, a television station and Chicago Sun-Times.
Organization: WBBM-TV
Role: Investigative Reporter
Period: 1981–May 2020
Details: Chicago, Illinois
Organization: Chicago Sun-Times
Role: Investigative Reporter
Period: 1976–1981
Details: Chicago, Illinois · Conducted investigations of municipal corruption and institutional wrongdoing, including the landmark Mirage Tavern undercover project in 1978.
Organization: Chicago Tribune
Role: Investigative Reporter
Period: 1971–1976
Details: Chicago, Illinois
Rise to Fame
Pam Zekman rose to prominence for her role in the film The Fugitive.
Notable Works
Notable media work includes The Fugitive, Mirage Tavern Investigation, and Chicago Tribune Nursing Home Investigation.
Film
- Film: The Fugitive (Herself, 1993) — Appeared as herself alongside other Chicago television journalists in the motion picture
- Work: Mirage Tavern Investigation (Investigative Reporter, 1978) — Chicago Sun-Times undercover exposé revealing bribery and corruption in city regulation of taverns
- Work: Chicago Tribune Nursing Home Investigation (Investigative Reporter, 1971) — Undercover reporting that documented conditions in Chicago-area nursing homes
- Work: 1972 Chicago Primary Election Investigation (Investigative Team Member, 1972-1973) — Investigation of voting irregularities associated with the Tribune staff's Pulitzer Prize
- Work: Federal Housing Program Investigation (Investigative Team Member, 1975-1976) — Reporting contributing to the Chicago Tribune staff's 1976 Pulitzer Prize
- Work: License to Deal (Investigative Reporter, 1983) — WBBM-TV investigative series examining drug-related enforcement issues
- Work: CBS 2 Chicago Investigations (Investigative Reporter, 1981-2020) — Long-running investigative reporting on local government, healthcare, taxes, public safety and consumer protection
Notable Coverage
- Chicago nursing home investigation - Chicago Tribune - 1971 - Participated in an undercover investigation exposing conditions and patient-care failures at Chicago nursing homes
- Chicago election fraud investigation - Chicago Tribune - 1972 - Worked on the investigation of voting irregularities in the 1972 primary elections, recognized by a 1973 Pulitzer Prize awarded to the newspaper's staff
- Medicare fraud and abuse - WBBM-TV - Investigated fraud and manipulation involving Medicare
- Cook County property taxes - WBBM-TV - Examined alleged manipulation and abuses in the property-tax system
- Transportation safety and towing practices - WBBM-TV - Examined unsafe driving histories among commercial drivers and exploitative towing practices affecting crash victims
Awards & Achievements
- Pulitzer Prize for Local General or Spot News Reporting — The Pulitzer Prizes — 1973 — Member of the Chicago Tribune reporting team recognized for exposing violations of voting procedures in the 1972 primary election.
- Pulitzer Prize for Local Investigative Specialized Reporting — The Pulitzer Prizes — 1976 — Member of the Chicago Tribune staff recognized for investigations of federal housing programs and conditions at private hospitals.
- Pulitzer Prize Finalist — The Pulitzer Prizes — Investigative reporting associated with the Mirage Tavern exposé.
- Journalist of the Year — Northern Illinois University — 1979 — Recognition of her investigative journalism.
Lesser Known Facts
- Zekman was a competitive figure skater before becoming a journalist.
- She appeared as herself in the 1993 movie The Fugitive.
- Her early Chicago Tribune reporting involved going undercover in nursing homes.
- Her investigative television reporting frequently focused on systemic problems affecting ordinary Chicago residents.
- She placed fifth in junior ladies singles at the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships.
- She worked in both print and television investigative journalism.
Personal Information
- Full Name: Pam Zekman
- Popular As: Pamela Zekman
- Gender: Female
- Occupation: Journalist and reporter
- Nationality: American
Birth & Background
- Date of Birth: October 22, 1944
- Age: 82
- Birthday: October 22
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois
Net Worth & Income
- Salary: $76,000–$330,000 (Estimated range)
- Net Worth: $396,000–$5,656,000 (Estimated range)
- Source of Income: Broadcast employment and related professional work
Related Biographies
- Zay Smith (Colleague • Chicago Sun-Times colleague and collaborator on the Mirage Tavern investigation.)
- George Bliss (Colleague • Chicago Tribune investigative journalist and collaborator on major investigations.)
- William Currie (Colleague • Member of the Chicago Tribune reporting team that investigated nursing home abuses.)
- Philip Caputo (Colleague • Chicago Tribune investigative reporting colleague.)
