By Storer (Bob) Rowley
The Chicago Headline Club and the Chicago Headline Club Foundation are on the hunt for the next Les Brownlee Memorial Scholarship recipient, and it could be you or someone you know.
We will award $5,000 to one exceptional undergraduate journalism student in Illinois. The scholarship is named in tribute to the legendary Les Brownlee, a pioneer who shattered barriers as the first African-American member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the first Black president of the Chicago Headline Club.
We are asking higher education institutions to pass the word on to journalism students, student media, faculty advisers, colleagues and anyone else in their schools (in or out of department) who is in charge of routing scholarship applications to deserving students.
The application deadline is April 4, 2025, and the winner will be announced this spring.
Who should apply
Current undergraduate journalism students at a Chicago-area or Illinois college or university.
How to apply
Candidates should send a cover letter, resume and at least three work samples by April 4. Find the application here.
How winners are chosen
Candidates are assessed by a committee of the Headline Club Foundation and evaluated on their previous experience, articulated need, cover letter and an interest in pursuing a journalism career.
Usually, the winning candidate for the Les Brownlee Memorial Scholarship is announced in May at the annual Peter Lisagor Awards for Distinguished Journalism banquet.
About Les Brownlee
Brownlee’s journalism career began as a reporter for Ebony Magazine, and he later joined the Chicago Defender. In 1950, he was the first Black reporter to join the staff of the Chicago Daily News. Over the years, he also worked for several radio stations, including WBBM-AM, and television stations, including WLS-TV, where in 1975, he won an Emmy Award for editorial writing. He is noted for his sign-off: “Les Brownlee, WLS Eyewitness News.” After he retired from television, Brownlee joined the faculty of Columbia College Chicago, where he taught journalism full-time for more than 20 years and inspired countless students.
About the Chicago Headline Club Foundation
The foundation is an IRS-recognized 501c3 nonprofit devoted to providing education and related services to Chicago-area journalism. For more information, go here.
About the Chicago Headline Club
The Chicago Headline Club is the local professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and membership is half-price for students. More info on rates and membership can be found here.