Daily Herald wins seven awards
The Daily Herald and members of its staff won seven awards in the Inland Press Association's national journalism competition, including the top honor for community leadership.
Along with the first-place award for community leadership, the newspaper also won first place for
explanatory journalism in the large-newspaper category those over 75,000 circulation.
The Daily Herald photo staff also won both a first and a second place in picture use for sports photography.
The Daily Herald also was awarded third place for editorial excellence for its editorial writing, with judges citing “well thought-out and clear opinion writing that provides “solid guideposts for members of its community.
Photographer George LeClaire also won both a third-place award and an honorable mention for news photography.
“We're gratified by this national recognition. It's a reflection of the work of a dedicated and talented staff and of our unwavering commitment to helping make the community a little bit better place, said Senior Vice President and Editor John Lampinen.
In the community leadership competition, the Daily Herald won for a series of stories revealing how certain state retirees can get pension benefits over $200,000 a year at a time when Illinois' pension funds have a stunning $78 billion unfunded liability, driving a financial crisis in a state that spends $3 for every $2 it takes in. Deputy Managing Editor Diane Dungey led the project with senior writers Matt Arado, Robert McCoppin and John Patterson.
The award for explanatory journalist went to Daily Herald Senior Writer Jake Griffin for a series of stories about the DuPage Water Commission, a rarely scrutinized agency that unknowingly spent all $69 million of its reserve fund. The stories triggered state legislators to pursue reforms that Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law in July.
Five editorials were submitted for the editorial excellence award, on topics ranging from pushing for reforms in how legislative scholarships are awarded to calling for more government openness after a school superintendent resigned in secrecy. The editorial board includes Lampinen; Colin M. O'Donnell, vice president and director of operations and strategic planning; Madeleine Doubek, assistant vice president and executive editor; Jim Slusher, assistant managing editor/opinion; Colleen Thomas, assistant opinion page editor; Dungey; Jim Baumann, Fox Valley editor; and Pete Nenni, Lake County editor.
The awards will be presented Oct. 25 at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel in Chicago.