RAFALSON NAMES AWARD-WINNING SUN-TIMES REPORTER MAUDLYNE IHEJIRIKA HIS SUCCESSOR
Maudlyne Ihejirika
Chicago Sun-Times Reporter Maudlyne Ihejirika has been named President of the Chicago Journalists Association, replacing Allen Rafalson who held the post for the past 15 years. Two other Directors, Stephanie Choporis and Yudi Zang, each assume the post of vice president. “It was an easy choice,” Rafalson said. “I am confident she will continue to carry out our work in the spirit, style and principles that our founders shaped 78 years ago. Her outstanding journalism record speaks for itself.” Ihejirika is an award-winning Sun-Times Urban Affairs Reporter-Columnist with 30 years’ experience in Journalism, Public Relations and Government. She pens the newspaper’s “Chicago Chronicles,” long-form columns on “people and places that make Chicago tick.” In her 24 years with the Sun-Times, she has served as assistant city editor, and covered beats from crime and the inner city to housing, politics and philanthropy. She was Sun-Times Weekend City Editor in 1977 when she left to work for Gov. Jim Edgar as press secretary for the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services. Two years later, she launched her own media and communications firm, managing media operations for members of the U.S. Congress, Illinois Legislature and City Council before returning to the Sun-Times in 2003. Her honors are many. Ihejirika has been recipient of the prestigious Studs Terkel Award, and myriad awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and National Association of Black Journalists. She is a frequent guest contributor on local and national television shows.
