A gathering of former winners of the Studs Terkel Media Award, presented annually by the Community Media Workshop, listen in as Studs Terkel and Sydney Lewis, longtime editor for Studs Terkel’s books and co-author of his upcoming memoirs, speak about this remarkable book.

Community Media Workshop President Thom Clark said: “We start our 20th year in April and we thought the new book would be a great excuse to celebrate Studs. Who could have imagined he would still be around, around to remind us why we got into this in the first place?”

Longtime friend, Rick Kogan, wrote in the Chicago Tribune after the event: ‘The sunny sky turned dark and the windows on the 22nd floor were pelted by hail. Quickly the storm moved on and Studs arrived at the same time a rainbow crossed the sky, from the Standard Oil Building to Buckingham Fountain. Seated at a table with Clark and Lewis, Studs held up a copy of his new book, leaned toward a microphone and said, “See this picture of me? I look like George Clooney.” There was laughter from the crowd. “And just look at me now,” he said, and there was not so much laughter.’

‘The conversation lasted 35 minutes, lightning flashing from black sky over the lake. “Terrific, terrific,” said Studs later. “I won’t be able to travel like I used to for a book. But I can do things from the WFMT studios. And the Internet! That’s an amazing thing.”

Sydney Lewis remarked: “Studs has that thing that all kids have, that delight, wonder and joy in things… Everything is exciting. Everything can be connected. It’s that jazz of waking up every day that keeps him going.” Well, one day he will not wake up. “This will be my last book,” he says. “It’s my testament.”

Recorded Thursday, October 18, 2007 at The Cliff Dwellers Club.