One blessing for journalists in Seattle is that readers here react passionately to what we write. Not all communities are like that.

Alicia Mundy, one of the newest recruits to The Seattle Times, experienced the blessing with a recent story about Bill Gates speaking to the National Governors Association. The Microsoft chairman blasted U.S. high schools as broken, flawed and underfunded.

"I've covered sex scandals and not gotten as much reader response as I got to the Gates story," Mundy said. "I loved finding that out about the readers in Seattle."

Of course, she isn't actually in Seattle. She's in The Times' bureau in Washington, D.C. More accurately, she is our bureau in the other Washington.

Working in the D.C. bureau can be lonely and daunting, but Mundy's work since she joined us in November indicates she's up to the challenge. Her experience is varied, and she's spent the past 20 years covering the nation's capital.

What should readers know about that experience?

"Most importantly, that I broke the United Way of America scandal in 1992 in which three United Way of America executives, including the president, William Aramony, went to federal prison.

"That I wrote a book ("Dispensing With The Truth" in 2001) about the fen-phen diet-drug disaster, showing what the drug company really knew and when it knew it.

"That I have written for monthly consumer magazines, trade magazines, been at a Washington policy think tank, done features and news as a freelancer for daily papers, including The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.

"That I once edited a small local paper in Alexandria, Virginia, The Alexandria Port Packet, and loved that most of all. Tip O'Neill said 'All Politics Is Local,' and I think All News Is Local."

How does she decide what to cover? "In general, I have always liked stories that explain how we got here on any issues and what factors are going to influence it," she answered. "Stories about the intersection of politics and money and power and personalities — and how those factors play out in fixing issues facing Seattle residents."

Readers should recall several recent stories with her byline:

• Congressmen Dave Reichert, a Republican, and Brian Baird, a Democrat, crossing party lines on the unprecedented bill regarding Terri Schiavo.

• Sen. Maria Cantwell fighting legislation to open the Arctic National Wildlife Area to oil drilling. She lost the battle but may have come out a winner.

• Sen. John McCain's continuing scrutiny of Boeing and military contracts.

• The Boeing board's actions in the eight days leading to the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Harry Stonecipher.

Today's Times includes her story about Microsoft's lobbying efforts. For me, the common trait of these stories is how Mundy reports and writes with such authority, even on the shortest of deadlines. I asked her what's her secret.

"Twenty years' experience covering Washington, and developing far too much skepticism and understanding of how power is wielded in Washington, D.C.," she responded.

"I also had five years as a defense analyst and saw how private companies can CREATE policy issues. I'm particularly well versed in covering political consultants and how they have gotten into policy issues — it's made me skeptical."

Given that skepticism, she added, she has to stop herself from being jaded. She is thrilled when "surprised by good news and thoughtful actions that don't have an immediate payoff."

"That's why, for instance, I so enjoyed Bill Gates' speech — it was different, and he was bringing his game right to the players and putting it in front of them. It said a lot about his commitment to this issue, even if there are reasonable questions about his plans.

"I like being surprised when someone doesn't just take the easy way out, and do the totally political thing."

Another example was the Schiavo case. Although Reichert and Baird took surprisingly opposite sides, both made good points. "There was nothing knee-jerk about any of their statements or reactions or decisions, and I felt it was important to write that with authority so readers could appreciate the situation.

"Many times politicians take the easy, politically popular way out, and I often convey that. So it's really important for readers to know when one of their representatives does something unexpected that will not help them politically.

"Finally, it's so important for readers to know how the smallest things, personal pique for example, in D.C., can have an impact on their lives, their livelihoods — and I guess my voice comes from my determination to help them understand this."

She wants to hear from readers by e-mail. "I'd like to know more about Seattle artists, singers, authors, teachers, schoolkids who are coming to D.C. I can't meet all of them, but I'd sure like to know if they are coming to perform, do a reading, or coming for a ceremony, or special program."

Fair warning. She loves dogs and may send you pictures of her dachshund, including ones of him in his St. Patrick's Day Parade costume or Easter bunny ears.

Just consider them a blessing, too.

Inside The Times appears in the Sunday Seattle Times. If you have a comment on news coverage, write to Michael R. Fancher, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111, call 206-464-3310 or send e-mail to mfancher@seattletimes.com. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists