Chicago Public Media Award Winners
By WBEZChicago Public Media Award Winners
By WBEZWBEZ staffers were recognized with a record number of national and local awards in recent years, a testament to their talent and hard work and our deep institutional commitment to substantive, enterprise journalism.
— Managing Editor Sally Eisele
(Last updated June 20, 2014)
Awards for work produced in 2013
NATIONAL COMPETITIONS
Peabody Award | This American Life: Harper High School
Ben Calhoun, Ira Glass, Alex Kotlowitz, Linda Lutton, Robyn Semien and Julie Snyder
Edward R. Murrow Award (RTDNA)
Overall Excellence, Large Market Radio
National Headliner Award
Best Documentary, First Place | Heroin Supply Chain Stretches from Mexico
Chip Mitchell and Cate Cahan
Best Breaking News or Continuing Coverage of a Single Event, 2nd Place | Chicago Public Schools Coverage
Linda Lutton, Becky Vevea and Cate Cahan
Education Writers Association
First Prize, Investigative Reporting | This American Life: Harper High School
Scripps Howard Foundation
Radio In-Depth Coverage | This American Life: Harper High School
Ben Calhoun, Ira Glass, Alex Kotlowitz, Linda Lutton, Robyn Semien and Julie Snyder
Finalists | WBEZ and the Chicago Reader for Heroin: LLC
REGIONAL COMPETITIONS
Regional Murrow Awards
Overall Excellence | WBEZ
Hard News Reporting | What is the state of Illinois’s ‘fiscal house’?
Alex Keefe and Niala Boodhoo
Investigative Reporting | Heroin Supply Chain Stretches from Mexico
Chip Mitchell
Continuing Coverage | Illinois Prison policy on Autopilot
Robert Wildeboer
Feature Reporting | Chicago newswire editor told the world of JFK’s death
Derek John
Use of Sound | Ten years after historic blackout, are we better off?
Shannon Heffernan
STATE AND LOCAL COMPETITIONS
Illinois Associated Press
Best Newswriter | Alex Keefe
Best Hard News Feature | What is the state of Illinois’s ‘fiscal house’?
Alex Keefe, Niala Boodhoo & Derek John
Best Investigative Report | From Mexico to the Midwest, a heroin supply chain delivers
Chip Mitchell & Cate Cahan
Best Series or Documentary | Shocking decline in psychiatric services
Shannon Heffernan & Aurora Aguilar
Best Use of Sound | Curious City: The history and mystery behind Chicago’s produce market
Jennifer Brandel & Shawn Allee
Indiana Society of Professional Journalists
In-Depth Reporting | After son’s suicide, mom wants mandatory counseling for all veterans
Michael Puente with editor Derek John
Chicago Headline Club, Lisagor Awards
Multimedia Collaboration | DCFS’ Faces of Failure
Tony Arnold of WBEZ, Chris Fusco and Monifa Thomas, Chicago Sun-Times
Broadcast Radio: Best In-Depth News Story or Series | Heroin: LLC
WBEZ staff
Broadcast Radio: Best Investigative Reporting | Illinois Prison policy on Autopilot
Robert Wildeboer and Cate Cahan
Broadcast Radio: Best Public Affairs Programming| Morning Shift: Flashpoint- A Tale of Two Police Forces with WNYC
WBEZ staff
Broadcast Radio: Best Business or Consumer Reporting | At What Cost? Risk-Taking in the New Economy
Derek John, Susie An, Dan Weissmann and Sally Eisele
Broadcast Radio: Best Health or Science Reporting | Shocking decline in psychiatric services
Derek John, Susie An, Dan Weissmann and Sally Eisele
Broadcast Radio: Best Sports Story | Remembering the Forgotten Hoosiers
Michael Puente and Sally Eisele
…
Awards for work produced in 2012
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS
Third Coast International Audio Festival Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition
BEST DOCUMENTARY: GOLD AWARD | This American Life: Harper High School
Ben Calhoun, Linda Lutton and Alex Kotlowitz, with co-producer Robyn Semien and editors Ira Glass and Julie Snyder
NATIONAL COMPETITIONS
Scripps Howard Foundation
Radio In-Depth Coverage | Grandma can’t accept your calls: Inmates disconnected by phone costs
Robert Wildeboer, Cate Cahan
National Murrow Awards
News Documentary | Mike and Victor: A Family Story
Alex Kotlowitz, Amy Drozdowska, Cate Cahan
Reporting: Hard News | The weight of the city’s violence, on one school principal
Linda Lutton, Cate Cahan
Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize | Chicago School Closings: Stories Beyond the Headlines
Becky Vevea
National Headliner Awards
Third Place, Radio feature and human interest story | The weight of the city’s violence, on one school principal
Linda Lutton, Cate Cahan
James Beard Award
Fear of Frying | Nina Barrett, Lynette Kalsnes
IRE
Finalist | Grandma can’t accept your calls: Inmates disconnected by phone costs
Robert Wildeboer, Cate Cahan
Casey Medals, The Journalism Center on Children and Families
Mike and Victor: A family story
Alex Kotlowitz, Amy Drozdowska and Cate Cahan
Honorable Mention | Grandma can’t accept your calls: Inmates disconnected by phone costs
Robert Wildeboer, Cate Cahan
Clarion Award, The Association of Women in Communications
Radio Regular Feature Program | Worldview
PRNDI
Best Writer, First Place, Large Staff | Linda Lutton
Second Place | Chip Mitchell
Breaking News, First Place, Large Staff | WBEZ: Chicago Teachers Strike - first 24 hours
Documentary, First Place, Large Staff | Mike and Victor: A Family Story
Alex Kotlowitz, Amy Drozdowska, Cate Cahan
Enterprise/Investigative, First Place, Large Staff | The crisis hidden inside Illinois’ prisons
Rob Wildeboer and Cate Cahan
Spot News, Second Place, Large Staff | Illinois state lawmaker arrested with pistol at O’Hare
Alex Keefe, Derek John
REGIONAL COMPETITIONS
Edward R. Murrow Award, Region 7
Reporting: Hard News | The weight of the city’s violence, on one school principal
Linda Lutton, Cate Cahan
News Documentary | Mike and Victor: A Family Story
Alex Kotlowitz, Amy Drozdowska, Cate Cahan
Investigative Reporting | 98 Minutes
Chip Mitchell, WBEZ and Jim Morris, CPI
Cate Cahan, WBEZ and Ronnie Green, CPI
Continuing Coverage: Race: Out Loud
Overall Excellence: WBEZ
Website:WBEZ.org
STATE AND LOCAL COMPETITIONS
John Howard Association of Illinois
Excellence in Criminal Justice Journalism Award | Rob Wildeboer
Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Awards
Best Reporter | Chip Mitchell
Feature Writing | A decade on, coaches try to bridge racial divide
Chip Mitchell, Natalie Moore, Cate Cahan
Science Health, Technology, Environmental Reporting | North Side community pursues local mental health solution through the vote
Odette Yousef, Shawn Allee
Sports Story | Weak fan support darkens Sox success
Michael Puente, Derek John
Business Reporting | Wage theft rampant in Chicago car washes
Chip Mitchell, Shawn Allee
Investigative Reporting | 98 minutes
Chip Mitchell, Cate Cahan (WBEZ)
Jim Morris, Ronnie Green (CPI)
In-Depth News Story or Series | The ghosts of Illinois pensions: Past and Future
Alex Keefe and Tony Arnold, Derek John
Public Affairs Programming | Race: Out Loud
Staff, Natalie Moore, Cate Cahan
Illinois Associated Press
Best Reporter | Linda Lutton
Best Series or Documentary | The Ghosts of Illinois Pensions: Past and Future
Alex Keefe, Tony Arnold & Derek John
Best Investigative Report | 98 Minutes
Chip Mitchell & Cate Cahan, WBEZ
Jim Morris & Ronnie Green, CPI
2nd Place, Best Investigative Report | The crisis hidden inside Illinois’ prisons
Robert Wildeboer, Cate Cahan
Best Hard News Feature | The weight of the city’s violence, on one school principal
Linda Lutton, Cate Cahan
2nd Place, Best Light Feature | Curious City: What’s at the bottom of the Chicago River?
Jennifer Brandell, Shawn Allee
2nd Place, Outstanding News Operation | WBEZ
Indiana Associated Press
Best News Series | For Indy, Super Bowl more than just a game
Michael Puente, Shawn Allee
2nd Place, Best News Series | Front & Center: Sarah’s Story Parts 1 and 2
Shannon Heffernan, Aurora Aguilar
Best Feature | Gary’s National Black Political Convention, 40 years on
Michael Puente, Shawn Allee
2nd Place, Best General News | The President won Indiana four years ago, but that’s not expected to happen this time around
Michael Puente, Derek John
2nd Place, Best Reporter | Michael Puente
Best Public Affairs Program | The Afternoon Shift, Live from Crown Point
Indiana SPJ
Best In-Depth Reporting, Radio | Gary’s National Black Political Convention, 40 years on
Michael Puente, Shawn Allee