Gary Webb, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetGary Webb
American investigative journalist
Date of Birth: 31-Aug-1955
Place of Birth: Corona, California, United States
Date of Death: 10-Dec-2004
Profession: journalist
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Virgo 
About Gary Webb
- Gary Stephen Webb (August 31, 1955 – December 10, 2004) was an American investigative journalist. He began his career working for newspapers in Kentucky and Ohio, winning numerous awards, and building a strong reputation for investigative writing.
- Hired by the San Jose Mercury News, Webb contributed to the paper's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Loma Prieta earthquake.
- Webb is best known for his "Dark Alliance" series, which appeared in The Mercury News in 1996.
- The series examined the origins of the crack cocaine trade in Los Angeles and claimed that members of the anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua had played a major role in creating the trade, using cocaine profits to support their struggle.
- It also suggested that the Contras may have acted with the knowledge and protection of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
- The series provoked outrage, particularly in the Los Angeles African-American community, and led to four major investigations of its charges. The Los Angeles Times and other major papers published articles suggesting the "Dark Alliance" claims were overstated.
- After an internal review, The Mercury News ultimately published a statement in May 1997 acknowledging shortcomings in the series' reporting and editing.
- Webb resigned from The Mercury News in December 1997.
- He became an investigator for the California State Legislature, published a book based on the "Dark Alliance" series in 1998, and did freelance investigative reporting.
- Webb committed suicide on December 10, 2004.
- The "Dark Alliance" series remains controversial.
- Critics view the series' claims as inaccurate or overstated, while supporters point to the results of a later CIA investigation as vindicating the series.
- Criticism has also been directed at the follow up reporting in the Los Angeles Times and other papers for focusing on problems in the series rather than re-examining the earlier CIA-Contra claims.
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