Charlie Johnson is all the sunny disposition and belief in an ordered universe a journalist and Cubs fan can pack into a 6' 2" frame.

A northern Illinois native, I began working in journalism at the tender age of 17, writing a politics column for my high school paper. Journalism school at the University of Illinois followed where I wrote for the Illini Media Company's print and digital properties, co-hosted programming on WPGU 107.1 and was nominated for a Hearst Foundation award. During the summer of 2009, I moved to Dublin, Ireland where I worked as a general assignment reporter for Metro Eireann, a weekly newspaper with a focus on immigrant and ethnic issues.

After a period of nomadic employment spanning four homes in three states, I landed in the Chicago Tribune newsrooom as an online producer and sometimes reporter for the Tribune's food, travel, news and business pages. I've been reading the Tribune literally everyday since I've been able to read and it's a thrill to contribute to the world class journalism published - both online and in print - by Tribune Co. daily. 

I'll read almost anything non-fiction, listen to almost anything resembling soul music and root for almost anything from Illinois not named "White Sox" or "Northwestern."

And if there's bourbon in my glass, I'll probably drink it, too.