Newspaper & Mailroom
Sun-Times News Group Newspapers to Receive More Than 100 Illinois Press Association Awards
Friday 28. August 2009 - Chicago Sun-Times Reporters Separately Receive Prestigious National Awards
The Sun-Times News Group was notified that several of its suburban newspaper titles will receive multiple journalism awards from the Illinois Press Association in its 2009 Excellence in News contest. Separately, the Chicago Sun-Times recently received top honors in a national reporting contest for coverage that raised questions about the appointment of Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate.
The Sun-Times News Group will receive a combined 104 awards by the Illinois Press Association across multiple categories, including photography, page design, projects and investigative stories, as well as coverage of business, sports, government, crime and lifestyles. The awards are detailed below. The Illinois Press Association will announce the awards and placements (first, second, third, honorable mention) at an October 9th luncheon.
Capitolbeat, an organization representing statehouse journalists across the country, on Saturday, August 22, 2009, awarded Chicago Sun-Times reporters Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney first place for their Feb. 15, 2009, report revealing that the brother of impeached ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich had solicited Burris for campaign cash prior to the governor appointing Burris to the coveted post. Burris had failed to disclose that in testimony to an Illinois House impeachment panel. The discrepancy triggered a state perjury investigation and a U.S. Senate ethics probe. The perjury investigation ended without charges. The Senate inquiry remains active. Capitolbeat also gave honorable mention to Korecki, McKinney and reporters Chris Fusco, Tim Novak and Jordan Wilson for beat reporting for chronicling Blagojevichs fall from power. McKinney also took third place for column writing for a January analysis of the states political culture that was published by Illinois Issues magazine.
“These are exceptional honors for our newspapers, and we are delighted that our reporters, photographers and editors are getting the recognition they deserve,” said Rick Surkamer, President and Chief Operating Officer of Sun-Times Media Group. “This is a demonstration of the high regard in which Sun-Times News Group publications are held in the journalism community, and testimony to the editorial excellence and strength of our newspaper brands.” The IPA awards are as follows:
The Beacon-News, Aurora
Community service, “Facing the Crisis,” Staff
Community service, “A Flight to Remember,” Andre Salles, Heather Eidson and staff
Editorial page, Mike Cetera
Business/economic reporting, “Facing the crisis,” Rowena Vergara, Steve Lord, Erika Wurst, Christine Moyer
Sports news, “Dark day for Driscoll,” Jim Owczarski
Sports feature, “The Hero’s Journey,” Paul LaTour
Sports feature, “Fighting the good fight,” Jim Owczarski
Enterprise/feature writing, “A New Alliance,” Heather Gillers
Enterprise/feature writing, “Honor Flight,” Andre Salles
Feature writing, “Fire if ready,” Matt Hanley
Feature writing, “A new life,” Christine Moyer
Original column, Denise Crosby
Sports column, Bill Kindt
Photo series, “A flight to remember,” Heather Eidson
Personality photo, “A flight to remember,” Heather Eidson
Personality photo, “Fox Valley flood,” Heather Eidson
Sports photo, “Power fights five,” Heather Eidson
Illustration, “Game of the week,” Michael Lush
Illustration “Bleeping potty mouths,” Brian Morgan
Informational graphic, “Year of the quarterback,” Michael Lush
Informational graphic, “Girls track 2008 state preview,” Michael Lush
Single page design, “Hesed house,” Jeff Frosch
Single page design, “Aurora’s luminaries,” Mike Bjorklund
Headline writing, Jennifer Mesenbrink
Sports section, Chris Sosa
Lifestyle section, “Storyteller,” Christine Moyer
Best Web project, “A Flight to Remember,” Dave Parro, Andre Salles, Heather Eidson and staff
Most innovative project, “A Flight to Remember,” Andre Salles, Heather Eidson and staff
Best promotion of public’s right to know, “EJ&E: Four times the freight,” Dan Campana, Andre Salles
Best coverage of taxation, “Taxing times,” Steve Lord, Andres Salles, Dan Campana, Rowena Vergara
Best investigative-enterprise reporting, “Money & the Mayor,” Dan Campana
Best legal media coverage, Matt Hanley
Bolingbrook Sun
Community service “An election with a twist,” Katie Foutz
Community service “Out in the cold,” Dan Cassidy
News reporting-series, “Weathering the economic storm,” Dan Cassidy and staff
Sports news, “Our champions,” Jason Ivanitz
Original column, Debbie Lively
Sports column, Jason Ivanitz
Sports column, Sean Fuchs
Photo series, “Wish list,” Danielle Gardner
Spot news photo, “Plane Crash,” Jonathan Miano
Feature photo, “Miss Illinois,” Danielle Gardner
Feature photo, “B-Ball Stars,” Mike Schmidt
Sports photo, “Mine,” Jonathan Miano
Illustration, “No holiday from crime,” Mike Bjorklund
Illustration, “A fresh start,” Mike Bjorklund
Illustration, “Boys tennis,” Mike Bjorklund
Informational graphic, “Neighbors,” Katie Foutz, Dan Cassidy
Newspaper design, Mike Bjorklund
Headline writing, Mike Bjorklund
Sports section, Jason Engel
Best Web site, Dave Parro and staff
Best Web project, “Homecoming special: full throttle,” Dan Cassidy and staff
Most innovative project, “Neighborhood project,” Dan Cassidy and staff
Best promotion of public’s right to know “An election with a twist,” Katie Foutz
The Courier-News, Elgin
News reporting-single story, “3 teens drown,” Emily McFarlan
Lake County News-Sun
Business and economic reporting: “Hometown stroll” series, staff
Most innovative project: “Wheres Charlie?” Charlie Adelman
General news photo: “First look” Thomas Delany Jr.
The Herald-News, Joliet
Original column, “Lessons from a gang-banger & more,” Catherine Ann Valasco
Naperville Sun
Local editorial, “Principal must go,” Ted Slowik
Sports photo, “Mud celebration,” Jonathan Miano
Sports photo “Victory,” Jonathan Miano
Headline writing, Nick Reiher
Pioneer Press
General excellence, Elmhurst Doings
General excellence, Glenview Announcements
News-reporting, series, “House of Blame,” Skokie Review: Nick Katz, Mike Isaacs, Kathy Routliffe, Andrew Schneider
News-reporting, single story, “Drug use on the rise in Oak Park,” Oak Leaves: John Huston
Government beat reporting, property tax protest, Arlington Heights Post: Kimberly Fornek
Sports section, Lake Forester: Kevin Reiterman
Local editorial, editorials about Lyons Township GOP, Doings: Brett Johnson
General news photo, “Under fire,” Gurnee Review: Rob Dicker
Personality photo, “Enquiring mind needs drying,” Arlington Heights Post: Ruthie Hauge
Photo series, “Minkas education and farewell,” Doings: Steve Johnston
Photo series, “Day in the Life of Arlington Heights,” Arlington Heights Post
Sports photo: “50 free” Steve Johnston
General news photo, “Queen,” Doings: Steve Johnston
Community Service, Child Safety Seat Day, Glenview Announcements
Business and economic reporting, “Ailing economy,” Glenview Announcements staff
Business and economic reporting, “ComEd reliability” Glenview Announcements: Lynne Stiefel, Ruth Solomon, Todd Shields
Original column, Glenview Announcements: Lynne Stiefel
Spot news photo, “Truck accident squeeze,” Glenview Announcements: Rob Dicker
Personality photo, “Wide eyed and bushy tailed,” Glenview Announcements: Dan Luedert
Personality photo, “What a deal,” Glenview Announcements: Ruthie Hauge
Lifestyle section, North Suburban Focus/Diversions, Glenview Announcements: Jenny Thomas
Best Web site, Glenview Announcements/Glenview-Announcements.com
Best Web project, “Electing,” Glenview Announcements
Most innovative project, Staff-shot video, Glenview Announcements
Best promotion of publics right to know, “LaGrange may have violated Open Meetings Act,” Doings: Brett Johnson and Jane Michaels
SouthtownStar
General excellence, staff
Sports, Lifestyles and overall design, staff
Sports feature, “from McAuley to Motherhood,” Tony Baranek — finalist in the sports feature category for his story
Investigative/enterprise reporting, “School perks,” Angela Caputo
Sports columnist, Pat Disabato
School board coverage, “Sittin tight in Lockport 205,” Duaa Eldeib
Spot news photo, “Ventilating the roof,” Joe Meier
Single-page design, “World of color,” Chad Merda
Business and economic reporting, stories on foreclosure crisis, Mike Nolan and Guy Tridgell
Local editorial, editorials about the Howe Developmental Center, Karen Sorensen
Enterprise/feature writing, stories on CN/EJ&E merger, Guy Tridgell
Feature writing, “Settimios Diary,” Donna Vickroy