Richard Mauer, the investigative journalist who exposed corruption in Alaska's oil industry and won a Pulitzer Prize, died at 76. His 34-year career at The Anchorage Daily News included groundbreaking investigations that held powerful corporations accountable. Mauer's reporting on Veco Corp. revealed illegal campaign contributions, leading to a $70,000 fine and eventually uncovering a $400,000 bribery scheme that toppled Alaska's political elite.

The Anchorage Daily News reporter specialized in database journalism, using early computer systems to track financial irregularities in political donations. His coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 and subsequent investigations into the Veco bribery scandal had profound market implications, damaging corporate reputations and prompting regulatory changes that reshaped Alaska's business environment.

Mauer's fearless approach to journalism extended beyond corporate malfeasance to include exposing the Roman Catholic Church's handling of abusive priests and documenting the tragic social crises affecting Native Alaskan communities. His reporting consistently demonstrated how investigative journalism serves as a critical check on power, influencing market perceptions and corporate behavior long after his retirement in 2017.