The Chicago Journalists Association would like to congratulate Chicago Tribune columnist Rex Huppke as the winner of its first Dorothy Storck Award!
The new contest recognizes columnists and radio and TV commentators living and working in Illinois and northwest Indiana. Huppke was named the winner of the $1,000 prize at CJA’s 78th annual awards dinner last November. Fellow finalists Natasha Korecki (Politico) and Scott Jacobs (The Week Behind) tied for second place.
“This is a tremendous honor and, quite possibly, a mistake on the part of the judges,” Huppke later wrote on Twitter. “If you’ve never read the late Dorothy Storck’s work, look it up. She was a magnificent writer.”
Chicago Tribune columnist Rex Huppke receives CJA’s first Dorothy Storck Award, which was named after the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and longtime CJA member. CJA’s other two finalists, Natasha Korecki and Scott Jacobs, tie for second place. Photo credit: Fred Quan
The award is named after the former syndicated newspaper columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner who passed away in August 2015. Storck began her journalism career at the Chicago American, which later became known as Chicago Today. She ended her career at the Philadelphia Inquirer. She was also a U.S. Air Force squadron commander and held the rank of Major before becoming a journalist. She was also a CJA member. Her family and fiancé, University of Illinois at Chicago political professor Dick Simpson, established this award in her honor.
Well-respected journalist Georgie Anne Geyer (left) poses with new CJA president Maudlyne Ihejirika. Award winners Souad Mekhennet and Michael Sneed noted how honored they felt to be in the same room as Geyer.The new CJA officers pose with Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui, ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the U.S.The new CJA officers pose with Daniel Pearl Award recipient Souad Mekhennet following the dinner.Daniel Pearl Award recipient Souad Mekhennet says a conversation with a widow of a New York City firefighter, following the Sept. 11 attacks, prompted her to go into this type of work.Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell (center) smiles and poses with CEO Edwin Eisendrath (left).Former Tronc chairman Michael Ferro (right) and CJA Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Michael Sneed (left) share a moment during the reception.
NBC-5 news anchor Rob Stafford (left) poses with the Rev. Jesse Jackson and former CJA president Allen Rafalson during the reception.NBC-5 political editor Carol Marin (left) stands with colleague and CJA Comeback of the Year Award-winner Rob Stafford.In her acceptance speech, Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Michael Sneed recalls her lengthy career in Chicago journalism and shares the story of her 90-second interview with then-mayor Richard J. Daley.CJA’s three honorees pose with former president Allen Rafalson (right). From left: Rob Stafford (Comeback of the Year Award), Michael Sneed (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Souad Mekhennet (Daniel Pearl Award).Former Illinois governor Pat Quinn greets the new CJA officers.NBC-5 news anchor Rob Stafford accepts his Comeback of the Year Award. He took time off from his anchoring duties earlier this year while undergoing treatment for a rare blood disorder. He thanks his wife, Lisa, for convincing him to go to the doctor.
