Madeleine Doubek joins BGA as policy chief

Former Daily Herald executive editor Madeleine Doubek has been hired by the Better Government Association to oversee policy and civic engagement for the nonprofit watchdog organization.

Doubek most recently was publisher of Reboot Illinois, the website and subscription newsletter covering state and local government and politics, which she helped launch in 2012. Her depature last month was tied to changes under new ownership, including the elimination of original content on the site.

Madeleine Doubek

In her new role Doubek will serve as director of policy and civic engagement, according to Andy Shaw, president and CEO of the BGA, who announced the appointment Monday. She will start in June.

“I’m thrilled to be able to join the BGA team to continue helping citizens focus on improving Illinois government and to expand our efforts with the taxpayers and elected officials who can make it happen,” Doubek said.

Before joining Reboot Illinois, Doubek spent 27 years at the Daily Herald, where she rose from reporter to political editor to managing editor to executive editor/assistant vice president.

Shaw also announced the hiring Monday of Rachel Leven, head of external communications for the City of Chicago Inspector General's Office, as policy manager for the BGA. She will help manage day-to-day policy work, with a focus on Chicago and Cook County government, according to the announcement.

"The addition of respected local journalist and reform advocate Madeleine Doubek and City of Chicago watchdog Rachel Leven will enable us to keep elevating the scope, impact and voice of our policy, advocacy and civic engagement programs across the state of Illinois,” Shaw said in a statement.

“Madeleine and Rachel will join the rest of the BGA team to shine a brighter light on government and hold more public officials accountable so that we'll eventually have the good government we're entitled to in exchange for our hard-earned tax dollars."