M.L. Elrick: The Unstoppable Watchdog of Detroit, From Pulitzer to Problem Solver

I. Hook: The Unstoppable Watchdog of Detroit

In the often-murky waters of Michigan politics, one journalist stands out for his relentless, face-to-face approach to accountability. That journalist is Michael L. Elrick, the award-winning investigative reporter for WJBK-TV, Fox 2 Detroit.

Elrick’s style is instantly recognizable and often aggressive. Viewers frequently see him cornering public officials in parking lots, outside meetings, or sometimes, literally chasing them down the street. It’s a deliberate strategy born from years of dealing with those who prefer to operate in the shadows.¹

He once stated that the nature of his work sometimes requires reporters to “jump out of the bushes to grab people” who refuse to answer questions.² This visual confrontation is more than just good television; it reinforces his credibility.

By constantly challenging the powerful and absorbing institutional pushback—sometimes even physical intervention by security personnel ³—Elrick demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the public good.

This high-stakes method has established Elrick as the definitive watchdog authority in Detroit, a role validated by the rarest combination of journalistic honors: he is one of the few reporters in the nation who holds both the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting and an Emmy Award.⁴

Elrick, born in 1968, uses his platform on Fox 2 Detroit to serve the city he has called home for decades, demanding transparency and focusing on how government actions affect ordinary citizens.⁵

He has become synonymous with the “Problem Solver” segments, delivering rigorous reporting that began in the world of ink but thrives today on the airwaves, ensuring that his deep expertise is translated into an accessible, engaging format for his audience.¹

II. The Defining Battle: A Win for Transparency and the Public Trust

The centerpiece of M.L. Elrick’s career—and the moment that fundamentally altered Detroit’s political landscape—was his involvement in the investigation of former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his Chief of Staff, Christine Beatty.

Working alongside fellow investigative reporter Jim Schaefer at the Detroit Free Press, Elrick broke the story on January 24–25, 2008, revealing explosive evidence: Kilpatrick and Beatty had engaged in an affair and, critically, had lied about it under oath during a police whistleblower lawsuit.⁷

Focusing on Corruption, Not Sensation

While the infidelity provided a sensational headline, the editorial team, including Elrick, made a crucial decision: the story was about government corruption, not sex.⁹ The core issue was perjury—lying during a sworn trial—and the massive financial cost to taxpayers.

The city had agreed to a secret deal to settle the lawsuit for over $9 million to keep the damaging text messages private, effectively using public money to cover up criminal behavior.⁷

This focus on the systemic abuse of power, rather than tabloid details, ensured the reporting maintained the high journalistic integrity required to spur civic action.

The FOIA Lawsuit: The Real Battleground

The true turning point in the scandal came down to a protracted legal fight over public records. The Detroit Free Press, with Elrick as a key contributor, filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit, seeking the settlement-related documents and the thousands of text messages exchanged between the mayor and his chief of staff.⁵

The lawsuit went all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court, which ultimately ordered the settlement documents unsealed.¹⁰

This legal victory was monumental, establishing a vital precedent for governmental transparency in the state. The documents proved the conspiracy and cover-up, leading directly to the resignation and eventual criminal convictions of both officials.⁹

This rigorous use of public records laws earned Elrick and the Free Press staff a cascade of prestigious awards, cementing their global reputation for accountability journalism.

Elrick’s Watchdog Honors: The Kilpatrick Takedown

III. The Journalist’s Grit: From Obits to On-Air Aggression

M.L. Elrick’s dedication to Detroit is rooted in his upbringing and his willingness to work any job necessary to understand the city’s pulse.

Born in 1968, Michael L. Elrick grew up on Detroit’s East Side, attending the Grosse Pointe school system and graduating from Grosse Pointe South High in 1985.⁵

He continued his education at Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Journalism degree in 1990.⁵

After writing for newspapers like the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire and the Daily Southtown in Chicago, he made the deliberate decision to return home.⁵

The Blue-Collar Reporter

Elrick returned to the Detroit Free Press in 1999, taking a job as an obituary writer, focusing on posthumous profiles.⁴ But his commitment to understanding the working life of the city went deeper.

In a unique, humanizing interlude, Elrick took on side jobs as a stadium vendor. He started as a hot dog man at the final season of Tiger Stadium and later sold beer at Comerica Park.⁴ He has publicly described this stint as the “best job he’s ever had”.⁴

This history—starting in the affluent Grosse Pointe school system but actively choosing blue-collar union work (he was a member of UNITE HERE Local 24, which represents vendors) ⁶—provides a crucial duality to his reporting.

When Elrick critiques government waste and failure, his voice carries authenticity because it is backed by the perspective of a working-class Detroiter, not a detached media observer.

Navigating the Media Shift

Elrick’s career trajectory also reflects a willingness to adapt for the sake of impact. He briefly left the Free Press for WDIV-TV (Channel 4) from 2006 to 2007, before returning just in time for the critical Kilpatrick investigation.¹⁵

In 2012, after the Pulitzer win, he moved definitively to broadcast, joining WJBK-TV (Fox 2).¹⁶ His explanation for leaving the Free Press revealed his drive for maximum reach and impact, stating that the newspaper’s work “wasn’t avante-garde enough” for him.¹⁶

This willingness to switch mediums demonstrates a strategic prioritization of influential, immediate reporting over loyalty to traditional print formats.

IV. FOX 2 and the Problem Solver Brand: TV Technique and Impact

At Fox 2 Detroit, M.L. Elrick solidified his reputation as the “Problem Solver.” This role requires him to translate the painstaking, data-heavy analysis of traditional print investigations into dynamic, often visual, television reports.

The Problem Solver Persona

Elrick’s reporting technique is simple in its philosophy: “you ask people what they did. Then you check it out. Then you tell people”.¹⁷

However, the execution on television is anything but simple. His reports specialize in catching officials who have previously refused comment, pressing them on issues like city contracts, property tax foreclosure abuse, or the failure of city council members to hire Detroit residents.¹

For instance, one Fox 2 segment showed Elrick confronting Detroit Councilman Scott Benson, asking directly why the councilman’s district director lived in Centerline and why his spokesperson was based in New York, demanding to know, “why can’t you hire more Detroiters, sir?”.¹

The Cost of Accountability

This aggressive style sometimes leads to direct confrontation with the mechanisms of power. In 2014, Elrick attempted to interview Council President Pro-Tem George Cushingberry. A Detroit Police officer, assigned to executive protection, physically moved Elrick out of the way. The DPD’s internal investigation later concluded the officer’s use of force was “reasonable and necessary”.³

Elrick’s response to the incident was telling: “I think it’s disappointing that police in a city that don’t have enough police are being used to protect public officials who don’t want to answer questions”.³ This public critique served to reinforce his watchdog identity.

When public officials use taxpayer-funded protection to evade him, it validates his narrative that he is the one pushing for genuine transparency. His success in this demanding visual medium is validated by his prestigious Emmy Award.⁴

ML Elrick Soul of Detroit Podcast

Beyond his work on Fox 2, Elrick extends his platform through the podcast ML Elrick Soul of Detroit. This audio format allows him to offer a crucial second layer of public engagement, providing “behind-the-scenes stories” and discussions about how investigative journalism works—even talking about topics like how reporters conduct surveillances.²

This educational transparency, combined with his published book on the scandal, The Kwame Sutra: Musings on Lust, Life and Leadership from Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, directly builds public trust by demystifying the investigative process.⁴

V. Citizen Elrick: Activism, Family, and the Political Pivot

Elrick’s relentless professional pursuit of accountability is inextricably linked to his deep personal commitment to the community. He is not just a reporter covering Detroit; he is a neighbor advocating for it.

Home Life and Civic Involvement

Elrick lives in Detroit’s East English Village neighborhood, where he has resided since 1999 with his M.L. Elrick wife and their two children (daughters).⁵ This long-term residential commitment provides the authentic context for his reporting on local issues.

His involvement stretches far beyond media:

• He is a board member of the East English Village Neighborhood Association.⁶

• He actively volunteers, serving as a former member of the school commission, a chaperone, and a coach for youth hockey, baseball, and soccer.⁶

• He created a charity hockey game that has successfully raised $125,000 for Detroit children’s programs.⁶

This hands-on work—whether it’s coaching soccer or simply mowing the median strip on East Outer Drive ⁶—provides irrefutable proof of his investment in the city’s welfare, lending substantial authority to his reporting on neighborhood concerns.

The 2021 City Council Campaign

In 2021, Elrick made a surprising pivot, announcing a run for Detroit City Council District 4.⁶ Driven by a desire to implement the honest change he championed as a journalist, his ML Elrick city council candidacy sought to bring his watchdog mentality inside City Hall.⁶

In the general election on November 2, 2021, Elrick lost to Latisha Johnson, securing 39.0% of the vote.¹⁹

While the political venture was ultimately unsuccessful, the campaign reinforced his fundamental identity. As one colleague noted upon his temporary departure, the journalism community would miss him because “we need people like you to continue working in journalism”.²

Elrick later reflected that reporters are “always reporters”.² His eventual return to his investigative role confirms that his most effective way to serve the city he loves is through independent scrutiny, not political office.

VI. The Legacy Builder: Eye On Michigan and Training the Next Watchdogs

Recognizing that the journalism industry faces structural challenges, Elrick has dedicated himself to cultivating the next generation of accountability reporters. He has long taught journalism at institutions like Wayne State University, Michigan State, and the University of Michigan-Dearborn.⁵

He observes a troubling paradox in the modern media landscape: there are more consumers of information than ever, but dramatically fewer reporters to gather it.¹⁷ To address this capacity crisis, Elrick took structural action.

Eye On Michigan: Investing in Truth

In 2022, Elrick launched Eye On Michigan, a non-profit journalism program he also calls “Watchdog U”.²⁰ The program is specifically designed to recruit and train a new, diverse generation of investigative reporters by working with college and high school students in Detroit.²⁰

The non-profit model is innovative because it tackles the financial barriers inherent in investigative work:

• Funding FOIA: The program uses donations to cover essential expenses, such as stipends for students and, critically, the high costs associated with Freedom of Information (FOIA) charges and specialists needed for data analysis.²¹

• Securing the Watchdog Future: By proactively funding FOIA requests, Elrick ensures the legacy of his Pulitzer-winning work—the fight for public records access—continues. He is teaching students how to use the very tools that exposed the highest levels of corruption in Michigan, ensuring future accountability is possible regardless of shrinking news budgets.²¹

• Immediate Impact: The resulting student investigative projects are immediately given professional weight, as they are published by established outlets like the Detroit Free Press and The State News.²⁰

This structural commitment demonstrates that for Elrick, his career is not just about reporting the news today, but actively securing the capacity for truth-telling in Michigan tomorrow.

VII. Conclusion: A Commitment Cast in the ‘Soul of Detroit’

Michael L. Elrick is more than an investigative reporter; he is a community institution. His trajectory—from Grosse Pointe student to Detroit vendor, from obituary writer to Pulitzer winner, and from television Problem Solver to non-profit journalism mentor—defines a career built on tenacity, community investment, and an unyielding demand for truth.

His aggressive, direct style is effective precisely because it is backed by meticulous research, legal victories, and a genuine, decades-long presence in the neighborhoods he covers with his family.

Whether he is exposing systemic corruption that leads to federal jail time or training the next cohort of journalists at Eye On Michigan, Elrick’s professional life confirms his own philosophy: reporters, like priests, are always reporters.²

The commitment to truth, transparency, and the Soul of Detroit remains the driving force behind this unique and indispensable public figure.

M.L. Elrick: Quick Facts and Core Roles

M.L. Elrick’s Key Collaborators and Platforms

• Jim Schaefer: Investigative reporting partner at the Detroit Free Press during the Pulitzer Prize-winning Kilpatrick investigation. Co-author of The Kwame Sutra.⁴

• Mark Fellhauer & Sean Windsor: Co-hosts of the ML’s Soul of Detroit podcast.²

• WJBK-TV (Fox 2 Detroit): Current investigative reporting platform.⁵

• Detroit Free Press: Former employer and partner in the Eye On Michigan non-profit, which publishes student work.⁵

• WDET FM 101.9 / WJR 760 AM: Platforms for radio appearances and journalistic work.⁶

M.L. Elrick’s Colleagues

• Jim Schaefer (Pulitzer Co-Winner)

• Ron Savage (Late Fox 2 Anchor)

• Huel Perkins (Fox 2 Anchor)

• Kellie Rowe (Colleague/Reporter)

Sources List

5 Wikipedia: M. L. Elrick

7 NFOIC: Kwame Kilpatrick: A mayor in crisis

12 Pulitzer.org: Detroit Free Press Staff (Kilpatrick)

9 Brechner.org: Detroit Free Press Named 24th Annual Brechner Award Winner

12 Pulitzer.org: Detroit Free Press Staff, and notably Jim Schaefer and M.L. Elrick

7 NFOIC: Jim Schaefer M.L. Elrick partnership

8 Wikipedia: Kilpatrick and Beatty text-messaging scandal

4 MLSoulofDetroit.com: About M.L. Elrick

20 Patronicity: Eye On Michigan Watchdog U 2.0

13 IRE: George Polk Award Winners

14 Tegna: Detroit Free Press Wins Polk, Bingham Awards

5 Wikipedia: M. L. Elrick (full detail)

15 Deadline Detroit: Pulitzer Winner M.L. Elrick Leaving Free Press for Fox 2

4 MLSoulofDetroit.com: ML Elrick Soul of Detroit meaning

6 ML4Detroit.com: Meet ML Elrick

18 ML4Detroit.com: City Council Run

19 Ballotpedia: Michael Elrick (2021 election results)

1 YouTube: FOX 2 Problem Solver M.L. Elrick’s interview of Detroit Councilman Scott Benson

21 Patronicity: Watchdog U Help Us Recruit And Train Investigative Reporters

1 YouTube: Raw video Elrick interview of Councilman Scott Benson

2 YouTube: Colleagues on M.L. Elrick journalist (ML Soul of Detroit segment)

16 Poynter: M.L. Elrick leaves Detroit Free Press to join WJBK-TV

8 Wikipedia: Kilpatrick and Beatty text-messaging scandal (FOIA details)

10 Courthouse News: Mich. High Court Declines Detroit Mayor’s Appeal

11 RCFP: FOIA request was key Detroit mayor’s legal saga

4 MLSoulofDetroit.com: About M.L. Elrick (vendor details)

3 Fox 2 Detroit: DPD internal investigation force used against reporter M.L. Elrick is reasonable and necessary

1 YouTube: FOX 2 Problem Solver M.L. Elrick’s interview of Detroit Councilman Scott Benson (link details)

19 Ballotpedia: General election for Detroit City Council District 4

20 Patronicity: Eye On Michigan Watchdog U 2.0 (details)

17 FSU Torch: Conversations on Kwame (teaching quotes)

21 Patronicity: Watchdog U Help Us Recruit And Train Investigative Reporters (funding details)

5 Wikipedia: M. L. Elrick (married/children)

5 Wikipedia: M. L. Elrick (birth date/education)