The Chicago Journalists Association’s 86th Anniversary Awards Ceremony was an unforgettable evening. Many talented journalists across the Chicago area were recognized for their work during the past year, and a genuine feeling of camaraderie filled the room. The night also featured a special interview with this year’s Chicago Journalist of the Year and our keynote speaker.
If you couldn’t join us on Nov. 14, check out the full list of winners. CJA extends a hearty congratulations to all of the winners!
Lifetime Achievement Award
Jim Williams, CBS News Chicago
Chicago Journalist of the Year
Jake Wittich, Windy City Times
Dorothy Storck Award Winners
First-Place Winner: Brandis Friedman, WTTW
Second-Place Winner: Shia Kapos, POLITICO
Second-Place Winner: Alma Campos, South Side Weekly
Sarah Brown Boyden Award Winners
BEST OF THE BEST
Stephanie Zimmermann and Frank Main, Chicago Sun-Times
“Unprovoked killings in downtown Chicago show a need for more mental health resources”
ARTS
Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis, WBEZ Chicago/Chicago Sun-Times
“Phones, vaping, loud talking: Is there no concert etiquette anymore?”
BEST SERIES
Stephanie Zimmermann and Frank Main, Chicago Sun-Times
“Unprovoked killings in downtown Chicago show a need for more mental health resources”
BREAKING NEWS
Staff, Chicago Tribune
“Pope Leo XIV’s family: What to know about his parents and their deep Chicago ties”
BUSINESS
Stephanie Zimmermann, Chicago Sun-Times
“Illinois’ most complained about car insurance companies and how consumers can protect themselves”
“Non-standard auto insurers have higher rates of complaints than bigger name insurers”
COLLABORATIONS
Farrah Anderson, Sam Stecklow and Dean Olsen, Invisible Institute, IPM News and Illinois Times
“Sangamon County sheriff defends hiring of Sean Grayson”
COMMENTARY
Alden Loury, Chicago Sun-Times
“Racist trolls don’t skip a beat after a violent July Fourth weekend”
“A trip to the ER got me to reboot my life”
“What it means when movie theaters in Black neighborhoods close”
EDUCATION
Sarah Karp, WBEZ Chicago and Mila Koumpilova, Chalkbeat Chicago
“Why are Chicago high schoolers missing so much school?”
“Some Chicago high schools stopped giving zeros. But with absenteeism up, teachers pushed back”
FEATURES
Quinn Myers, Block Club Chicago
HEALTH/SCIENCE
Stephanie Zimmermann and Frank Main, Chicago Sun-Times
“Failure to treat. Failure to protect.”
“Unprovoked killings in downtown Chicago show a need for more mental health resources”
IMMIGRATION
Alma Campos, José Abonce and Jacqueline Serrato, South Side Weekly
“Where do people go after ICE arrests them?”
“Mobilizing to defend Chicago communities from ICE”
INNOVATIVE STORYTELLING
Binghui Huang, Meredith Newman, Madison Hopkins, Jim Daley, Alex Nitkin, Claire Murphy, Laura Stewart and Cesar Calderon, Illinois Answers Project and South Side Weekly
INVESTIGATIONS
Alejandra Cancino and Maya Dukmasova, Injustice Watch
“Rising rents, unlivable apartments leave tenants desperate, confused and often helpless”
“Tenants’ right to withhold rent becomes landlords’ weapon”
NEWS/SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Sebastián Hidalgo, Block Club Chicago
“ICE mass arrests spark chaos in South Loop as activists fight to disrupt operation”
POLITICS
Ray Long, Dan Petrella, Addison Wright, Rick Pearson and Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune
“Illinois Senate President Don Harmon improperly accepted $4 million in campaign cash”
PUBLIC SERVICE
Sam Stecklow, Invisible Institute and Max Blaisdell, the Chicago Reader
“More than 100 cops who lied missing from Cook County’s Brady list”
“What is the Chicago Police Department’s ‘you lie, you die’ rule”
“Cook County State’s Attorney stops maintaining lists of discredited cops”
SPORTS
Mack Liederman, Block Club Chicago
“Skyway Lanes, Chicago’s last Black-owned bowling alley, needs your help”
“Skyway Lanes will stay open after Chicagoans step up to save city’s last black-owned bowling alley”
“Timber Lanes bought by longtime bowler in deal to keep historic North Side alley open”
STUDENT JOURNALISM
Madison Holcomb, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
TECHNOLOGY
Madison Hopkins, Illinois Answers Project and Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune
“Many problems. Little focus. Blurry results.”
TRANSPORTATION
Manny Ramos, Block Club Chicago
“CTA’s new gun AI gun-detection program shrouded in secrecy”
“CTA boss retires after years of mounting pressure over struggling transit service”