WBEZ 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