Page 1 on June 24, 2014, includes a segment of "Generations at Risk: Our Promise to Our Kids."
The Daily Herald was awarded the Inland Press Association's Community Leadership Award for large-circulation newspapers Tuesday, Oct. 27, marking the eighth time in the past 12 years the paper has received that recognition.
The award was presented to Editor John Lampinen at the association's annual meeting at the J.W. Marriott Chicago. Inland, headquartered in Des Plaines, represents newspapers from throughout North America.
"We're gratified by this recognition of our staff's continuing dedication to public service," Lampinen said.
It was one of eight awards the Daily Herald received.
Among the others was a first-place award in sports picture use for coverage of last spring's championship run of the Chicago Blackhawks and an honorable mention in news picture use.
In addition, several photographers were honored: Brian Hill with a second-place award in feature photography; John Starks with honorable mentions in portrait photography and news photography; Steve Lundy with an honorable mention in news photography; and Rick West with an honorable mention in feature photography.
The Community Leadership Award went to the paper for its series "Generations at Risk: Our Promise to Our Kids," spearheaded by staff writer Melissa Silverberg and Data Journalism Editor Tim Broderick.
The judges said the initiative was an example of "an outstanding data project that was backed by tremendous reporting and editing."
They added: "The lessons learned can be prescriptive for many other cities as America continues to search for ways to end the cycle of failure in many urban schools. A big part of leadership is going beyond identifying problems. The Herald offered solutions and applauded schools that are doing the right thing."
Some of he award-winning photos from our photographers are featured on the rest of this page.
A challenge we cannot ignore
Lower income equals lower test scores in our schools
How one poor school in Carpentersville is making big gains on tests
How middle school went from chaos to changing lives
From structure, hope
How do we get more success stories at poor schools?
Illinois education leader: We are judging schools wrong
A matter of will
Editorial: For Generations at Risk, 'iTunes U' offers education equality
The June 9, 2015, Sports section front, showing fans' frustration during a playoff loss with Tampa.
Photo by Steve Lundy
Melissa Silverberg
Tim Broderick
Steve Lundy
Most of my job is about being in the right place at the right time, and of course editing photos is all about picking the right one. In this instance I was in the right place at the right time and had a very easy time picking the image to use for my perspective. Second Place - Photography Feature - Lincoln in ice
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Stripped trees lit up by search lights and wrecked cars, some with dome lights on, create an otherworldly landscape after an F-4 tornado damaged every home and killed two people in Fairdale, southeast of Rockford on Route 72, Thursday night.Honorable Mention - Photography News - Tornado's aftermath
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
LaToya Howell of Waukegan, right, hugs her 12-year-old daughter Jayla as people protest State's Attorney Michael Nerheim's decision that a Zion police officer was justified in fatally shooting teenager Justus Howell last month.Honorable Mention - Photography News - Protest of police shooting
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comGeorge Lazansky stands in his Algonquin home doorway. He was held captive in Beruit 30 years ago.Honorable mention - Photography Portrait - captive no more
Hailey Kornak, 8, of Glen Ellyn tries to get a selfie as a Great Southern White butterfly lands perilously close to her face at the butterfly house at Peck Farm Park in Geneva. She and a couple of friends had cameras out and ready taking pictures of butterflies when Hailey became part of the composition.Honorable Mention - Photography Feature - Butterfly selfie