The Chicago Journalists Association’s 85th Anniversary Awards Ceremony was an unforgettable evening. Two esteemed journalists received our 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award and many other talented journalists across the Chicago area were recognized for their work during the past year. The night also featured a special interview with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipients and our 2023 Chicago Breakout Journalist of the Year.
If you couldn’t join us on Nov. 15, check out the full list of winners. CJA extends a hearty congratulations to all of the winners!
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary Mitchell, formerly Chicago Sun-Times
Curtis Lawrence, formerly Block Club Chicago
Chicago Journalist of the Year
Mike Lowe, WGN TV
Dorothy Storck Award Winners
First-Place Winner: Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune
Second-Place Winner: Stacy St. Clair, Chicago Tribune
Second-Place Winner: Michele Weldon, for AARP’s “The Ethel” and West Suburban Living magazine
Sarah Brown Boyden Award Winners
BEST OF THE BEST
Emily Hoerner and Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune
“Patients reported sexual abuse by medical providers. Health care systems let them keep working.”
“Flawed state oversight lets doctors accused of abuse continue to see patients”
“Former patients of Fabio Ortega say Endeavor Health failed to protect them from an abusive doctor”
ARTS
Atavia Reed, Block Club Chicago
“How An Englewood Artist And Activist Is Helping Black Families Keep Their Homes”
BEST SERIES
Grace Hauck, Illinois Answers Project
“Strapped Down: Restraint Chairs in Illinois Jails“
BREAKING NEWS
Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau and Ray Long, Chicago Tribune
“Former Ald. Ed Burke’s verdict stands out in long arc of City Council crooks”
BUSINESS
Lizzie Kane and Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune
“Verbal abuse, a ‘sex-driven’ culture”
COLLABORATIONS
Staff, Cicero Independiente with MuckRock, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and Columbia University’s Brown Institute for Media Innovation
“The Air We Breathe: Our Network of Sensors Shows How Industry is Still Polluting Cicero’s Air”
“The Air We Breathe: How the Koppers Plant Became, and Remains, Cicero’s Toxic Neighbor”
COMMENTARY
David Greising, for the Illinois Answers Project and Chicago Tribune
“The challenge to erase Illinois’ $140 billion in pension debt”
“What Illinois can learn from other states’ pension reform”
“Examining the plans to tackle Illinois’ pension debt”
EDUCATION
Reema Amin, Chalkbeat Chicago
“Chicago’s pre-K expansion fueled by federal COVID recovery money”
FEATURES
Max Blaisdell, for Chicago Magazine
“How a U of C Professor Wound Up a Prisoner of Iran”
HEALTH/SCIENCE
Emily Hoerner and Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune
“Patients reported sexual abuse by medical providers. Health care systems let them keep working.”
“Flawed state oversight lets doctors accused of abuse continue to see patients”
“Former patients of Fabio Ortega say Endeavor Health failed to protect them from an abusive doctor”
IMMIGRATION
Mauricio Peña, Katrina Pham, Nissa Rhee and Sebastian Hidalgo, Borderless Magazine
“Investigation: Migrants Describe Inhumane Conditions at Chicago’s Largest Shelter”
“Chicago Mayor, Shelter Officials Respond to Living Conditions Following a Borderless Investigation”
“Investigation: Chicago Ignored Dozens of Warnings of Migrant Shelter Conditions Before Child’s Death”
INNOVATIVE STORYTELLING
Andy Grimm, Chicago Sun-Times
“Inside Chicago’s most violent neighborhood”
INVESTIGATIONS
Emily Hoerner and Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune
“Patients reported sexual abuse by medical providers. Health care systems let them keep working.”
“Flawed state oversight lets doctors accused of abuse continue to see patients”
“Former patients of Fabio Ortega say Endeavor Health failed to protect them from an abusive doctor”
NEWS/SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Colin Boyle, Block Club Chicago
“Migrants Sleep Outside In Frigid Temps As City Council Squabbles About What To Do Next”
“Migrants At Last Police Station Want Jobs, Not A Spot In City Shelters: ‘Just Give Us Work’”
POLITICS
Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune
“Chicago treasurer accused of misconduct and ethical violations in letter city kept secret for years”
“City settlement deal demands silence from whistleblowers fired by Chicago Treasurer Conyears-Ervin”
“Ethics board finds probable cause Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin wrongfully fired 2 whistleblowers”
PUBLIC SERVICE
Staff, Cicero Independiente with MuckRock, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and Columbia University’s Brown Institute for Media Innovation
“The Air We Breathe: Our Network of Sensors Shows How Industry is Still Polluting Cicero’s Air”
“The Air We Breathe: How the Koppers Plant Became, and Remains, Cicero’s Toxic Neighbor”
SPORTS
Stacy St. Clair and Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune
STUDENT JOURNALISM
Naomi Taxay, Northwestern University
“‘My prison cell became my university’: Benard McKinley’s journey to civil rights law”
TECHNOLOGY
Jim Daley and Max Blaisdell, South Side Weekly
“CPD Reported Hundreds of Missed Shootings to ShotSpotter”
“ShotSpotter Monitors Hundreds of North Side Billboards for Free”
“ShotSpotter Keeps Listening After Contracts Expire”
TRANSPORTATION
Manny Ramos and Mack Liederman, Block Club Chicago
“Death Behind The Wheel: How The CTA Failed A Driver In Crisis”
“The CTA’s Oversight Board Is Filled With Political Insiders, Not Transit Experts”
“While The CTA Flounders, Its Leader Keeps Getting Pay Hikes”