Studs Terkel was a model, an inspiration, and a mentor to Community Media Workshop. A masterful radio interviewer and Pulitzer-prize winning author, Studs often described himself as an eclectic disk jockey. His art as a communicator was to help every subject of an interview find their voice to tell a story.

Whether you were rich and famous or nearly down and out, you were the reason he engaged his craft. From the early days of Chicago television and theatre, through his many years hosting a morning program on WFMT-FM, to his book authoring of Division Street, Working, Hard Times, Race or May The Circle Be Unbroken, Studs brought his audiences and readers through the lives of sometimes very ordinary folks doing extraordinary things. His work often spoke truth to power, or simply introduced us to parts of our community, city, region or world we hadn’t heard of yet.

He was the ultimate organizer, bringing us all through a 20th century journey of politics, culture, theatre and music. He especially enjoyed our annual tribute to significant journalism, from veteran scribes to up-and-coming bloggers, and with these awards we honor the legacy of Louis “Studs” Terkel.

More information on this event here.