Mike Wilkinson, 42, has worked at The Blade as a reporter and editor since 1994. A 1985 graduate of the University of Michigan, he has worked primarily as a general assignment reporter and written on topics ranging from crime and city government to education and politics. He has won journalism awards in Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee, and Ohio. Mr. Wilkinson and Columbus bureau chief James Drew wrote the first investigative piece about Ohio’s investments into rare coins. The investigation blossomed into a statewide look at political and financial corruption and Ohio’s pay-to-play political culture. The resulting series was a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for public service, a finalist for The Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, and was awarded the print grand prize and first place in investigative reporting in the National Headliner Awards, among other awards.