These are the finalists for the 48th Annual Peter Lisagor Awards

March 28, 2025 Marissa Nelson Top Story, Homepage, Lisagor 0

The finalists for the 48th Annual Peter Lisagor Awards represent some of the best journalism produced in Illinois and northwest Indiana from across print, digital and broadcast media.

Our thanks to everyone who submitted nominations for consideration. Entries were judged by an out-of-state SPJ chapter.

Award recipients will be announced at a dinner ceremony Friday, May 9, at the Union League Club of Chicago. Tickets will be on sale until Friday, April 25 at 11:59 p.m. on Eventbrite.

Questions? Email us at Chiheadlineclub@gmail.com

Categories

Finalists are listed in no particular order.

Best All Media

Best Feature or Human Interest Single Story

  • “A Celebration of Hanukkah”; Rachel Pikelny, Geoffrey Baer, Kateryna Sazonova, Joe Winston, Tim Ferrin, Shelley Spencer; WTTW
  • “How a U. of C. Professor Wound Up a Prisoner of Iran”; Max Blaisdell; Chicago Magazine
  • “She was a beautiful mother”; Megan Crepeau; Chicago Tribune

Best Investigative Reporting

  • “Death Behind The Wheel: How The CTA Failed A Driver In Crisis”; Manny Ramos; Block Club Chicago
  • “Medical Misconduct”; Lisa Schencker, Emily Hoerner; Chicago Tribune
  • “Abuse Allegations unchecked for years at Aunt Martha’s”; David Jackson; Injustice Watch

Best Public Service

  • “Funeral Home”; Beth Hundsdorfer; Capitol News Illinois
  • No second or third place

Best Data Journalism

  • “Medical debt weighs on Chicagoans even when they have health insurance”; Sophie Rodgers; Crain’s Chicago Business
  • “The invisible toll of opioid overdoses on a generation of Black men in America”; Frank Main, Elvia Malagón, Erica Thompson, Josh Sanger, Margot Sanger-Katz, Nick Thieme; Chicago Sun-Times, The Baltimore Banner, The New York Times
  • “Many cameras. Little focus. Blurry results.”; Madison Hopkins, Joe Mahr; Chicago Tribune, Illinois Answers Project

Best Multimedia Collaboration

  • “Lost In Translation: Migrant Kids Struggle In Segregated Chicago Schools”; Mina Bloom, Reema Amin; Block Club Chicago, Chalkbeat
  • “Cook County assessor misclassifies hundreds of properties”; Alex Nitkin, A.D. Quig, Cam Rodriguez; Chicago Tribune, Illinois Answers Project
  • “Chicago’s Historic School Board Elections”; Staff at Chalkbeat Chicago, Staff at Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, Staff at Block Club Chicago; Chalkbeat Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ Chicago, Block Club Chicago

Best Feature or Human Interest Series

  • “Firsthand: Homeless documentary series”; Mario Tharpe, Dan Protess, Anne Gleason, Teresa Crawford, Ines Sommer, Edgar Vargas, Teresa White; WTTW
  • “Chicago’s Migrants In Limbo”; Mina Bloom, Francia Garcia Hernandez , Reema Amin, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Colin Boyle; Block Club Chicago, Chalkbeat
  • “The Tenant Trap”; Alejandra Cancino, Maya Dukmasova; Injustice Watch

Best Community Engagement

  • “They Lost Loved Ones to Guns. They’re Sharing Their Stories So Things Will Be Different”; Crystal Paul, Joy Resmovitz, Rita Oceguera, Justin Agrelo; The Trace
  • “Strapped Down: What to know about the use of restraint chairs in Illinois jails”; Grace Hauck, Meredith Newman, Cesar Calderon, Sebastián Hidalgo, Cam Rodriguez, Jana Simovic; Illinois Answers Project
  • “Know-your-rights cards for migrant families in CPS schools”; Block Club Chicago, Chalkbeat

Design & Visuals

Best Feature Photo

  • “Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church has new church bells blessed at special mass and dedication”; Karie Angell Luc; Pioneer Press Chicago Tribune
  • “First-Day Fear”; Brian Hill; Daily Herald
  • “Father and son fireworks”; Vincent Alban; Chicago Tribune

Best News Photo

  • “District 65 school board votes to close Bessie Rhodes”; Richard Cahan; Evanston RoundTable
  • “Protesters clash with police”; Armando L. Sanchez; Chicago Tribune
  • “New arrivals”; Armando L. Sanchez; Chicago Tribune

Best Sports Photo

  • “Wrestling suplex”; Brian Cassella; Chicago Tribune
  • “Fencing victory”; Brian Cassella; Chicago Tribune
  • “Disappointed fans”; Chris Sweda; Chicago Tribune 

Best Use of Feature Video

  • “Former Illinois QB speaks on Justin Fields and being a Black quarterback in the 1990s”; Jerome Johnson, Tyger Ligon, Ash Lane, Joshua Leftwich, Morgan Elise Johnson; The TRiiBE
  • No second or third place

Best Illustration or Graphics

  • “Graphic illustrations by Verónica Martinez”; Verónica Martinez; Injustice Watch
  • “Comics journalism by Coco Picard”; Caroline Picard; Chicago Reader
  • “Bryan Barker, selection of illustrations”; Bryan Barker; Chicago Sun-Times

Best Use of News Video

  • No finalists

Best Use of Data Visualization

  • “Chalkbeat Chicago’s New School Board Districts Interactive Map”; Becky Vevea, Thomas Wilburn, Stacy Rupolo, Colin Boyle, Laura McDermott; Chalkbeat 
  • “CPS needs to plug a huge financial hole — but where will it find the funds?”; Crain’s Chicago Business
  • “Death Behind The Wheel: How The CTA Failed A Driver In Crisis”; Kelly Bauer, Manny Ramos; Block Club Chicago

Best Design in a Small/Medium Print Publication

  • “Gun Violence and Public Health: A national crisis echoing throughout our community”; Erin Sullivan, Dan Leu; Chicago Health Magazine
  • “Thomas J. Linden designs”; Thomas J. Linden; Crain’s Chicago Business
  • “Karen Freese Zane: Private dining and Women of note”; Karen Freese Zane; Crain’s Chicago Business

Best Design in a Large Print Publication

  • “Bryan Barker selection of print page designs”; Bryan Barker; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Taste: Chefs’ holiday dish list section”; Bryan Barker, Eric White; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Eric White, a selection of 3 print page designs”; Eric White; Chicago Sun-Times

Best Digital Design

  • “Finding refuge in Toronto”; Jesse Howe; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Jason McGregor digital designs”; Jason McGregor; Crain’s Chicago Business
  • “Firsthand: Homeless”; Justin Henderson; WTTW  

Best Social or Short-Form Video

  • “WTTW News Explains”; WTTW News, The Banditry Co.
  • “The heat inside your car can turn deadly in minutes”; Stephanie Zimmermann; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Death Behind The Wheel: How The CTA Failed A Driver In Crisis”; Melissa Espana, Jon Hansen, Manny Ramos, Block Club Chicago Staff; Block Club Chicago 

Best Multimedia Feature Presentation

  • “Walking to the United States”; Chip Mitchell, Anthony Vazquez; Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ Chicago
  • “Mr. Duncan’s disciples”; Lauren FitzPatrick; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Wheaton residents secure traffic signal approval after years of advocacy, installation expected in 2026”; Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Alden Loury; WBEZ Chicago

Best Headline From a Print/Online Publication

  • “Chicago Needs A Shower: Why The City Smells So Bad Right Now”; Block Club Chicago Staff; Block Club Chicago
  • “Paul Saltzman selection of headlines”; Paul Saltzman; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Eric White selection of print headlines”; Eric White; Chicago Sun-Times


Commentary & Presentation

Best Theater or Literary Coverage

  • “A $200,000 budget gap: Now playing at midsize theaters everywhere”; Mike Davis, Cassie Walker Burke, Manuel Martinez; WBEZ Chicago
  • “Chris Jones theater criticism”; Chris Jones; Chicago Tribune
  • “Theater Criticism – Shakespeare Productions”; Steven Oxman; Chicago Sun-Times

Best Food or Restaurant Coverage

  • “These are the best new spots for dinner, lunch or drinks downtown”; Ally Marotti; Crain’s Chicago Business
  • “Bitter Blossom closure raises questions about local nightlife”; Matt Farrauto; Evanston RoundTable
  • “Chicago chefs Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark on the high price of living the dream”; Jennifer Tanaka, Cassie Walker Burke, Jamie Kelter Davis; WBEZ Chicago

Best Music Coverage

  • “Mr. Duncan’s disciples”; Lauren FitzPatrick; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Buddy Guy at 88”; Christopher Borrelli; Chicago Tribune
  • “Sofia’s Viola”; Kane Farabaugh; Voice of America

Best Podcast

  • “Who’s a good boy? A look at Chicago’s most popular dog breeds”; Amy Qin, Matt Kiefer, Susie An, Jason Marck, Joe DeCeault; WBEZ Chicago
  • “City Cast Chicago”; Simone Alicea, Jacoby Cochran, Michelle Navarro, Sidney Madden; City Cast Chicago
  • “The Block Club Chicago Podcast”; Jon Hansen , The Block Club Staff; Block Club Chicago

Best Email Newsletter

  • “Axios Chicago Newsletter”; Monica Eng, Justin Kaufmann, Carrie Shepherd, Lindsey Erdody; Axios Chicago
  • “Illinois Playbook by Politico’s Shia Kapos”; Shia Kapos; Politico
  • “Cafecito con La Crónica”; Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez; Columbia Chronicle

Best Featured Reporter or Host

  • Kane Farabaugh; Voice of America
  • “¡Presente! with Francia Garcia Hernandez”; Francia Garcia Hernandez; CAN-TV
  • John Williams; WGN Radio

Best Sports Commentary

  • “Bears QB Caleb Williams: Criticism of Nails, Fashion Reflect Fan Homophobia”; Evan Moore; The Chicago Defender
  • “Steve Greenberg sports columns”; Steve Greenberg; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Rick Morrissey sports columns”; Rick Morrissey; Chicago Sun-Times

Best Column or Editorial From a Large Print/Online Publication

  • “Rummana Hussain columns”; Rummana Hussain; Chicago Sun-Times
  • No second or third place

Best Column or Editorial From a Small Print/Online Publication

  • “ESSAY: Ending cash bail shows that we shouldn’t lead with fear”; Christopher Williams; The TRiiBE
  • “Crain’s Chicago Business editorials”; Ann Dwyer; Crain’s Chicago Business
  • “Take time machine ride back to 1968 newspaper era (Part 1)”; Donald DeBat; Inside Publications – Skyline

Best coverage by subject (Small print / online)

Best Campus Coverage by Student Journalists

  • “Columbia in crisis”; Patience Hurston, Vivian Richey, Araceli Ramirez, Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez; Columbia Chronicle
  • No second or third place

Best Health Reporting

  • “Medical Misconduct”; Lisa Schencker, Emily Hoerner; Chicago Tribune
  • “Inside the Chicago court fight over hair relaxers, Black hair care”; Andy Grimm, Natalie Moore; Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ Chicago
  • “The troubling trends of colon cancer”; Lisa Fielding; WBBM Newsradio

Best Deadline Reporting (large print/online)

  • “DNC Protest Coverage”; Sam Charles, Megan Crepeau, Caroline Kubzansky, Christy Gutowski, Nell Salzman, Stacy St. Clair, Zareen Syed, Jason Meisner; Chicago Tribune
  • No second or third place

Best Deadline Reporting (small or medium print/online)

  • “Hundreds Of Migrants Sleeping In CTA Buses As City Braces For Winter Storm”; Madison Savedra, Colin Boyle; Block Club Chicago
  • “17 Days: DePaul’s Protest Encampment”; Lilly Keller, Lucia Preziosi, Rose O’Keeffe, Jake Cox, Claire Tweedie, Alyssa Salcedo, Nupur Bosmiya, Staff; The DePaulia, La DePaulia
  • “Corruption trial and bizarre pre-trial arrest of polarizing ex-lawmaker Sam McCann”; Hannah Meisel; Capitol News Illinois

Best Deadline Reporting (audio and video)

  • No finalists

Best Community Reporting (large print/online)

  • “Affordable housing”; Brian J. Rogal; Chicago Tribune
  • “Looking for work, migrants turn to street vending”; Sarah Freishtat, Kate Armanini; Chicago Tribune
  • “CTA coverage”; Sarah Freishtat; Chicago Tribune

Best Community Reporting (small or medium print/online)

  • “‘Everyone Is Mad at the Wrong People’: Black Organizers Call for Focus and Nuance in the Affordable Housing Blame Game”; Wendy Wei, Leslie Hurtado; South Side Weekly
  • “How Chicago’s Black Steelworkers Struggled, Thrived And Survived The Industry’s Rise And Fall”; Maxwell Evans; Block Club Chicago
  • “Why Are There No Sit-Down Restaurants In Englewood?”; Atavia Reed; Block Club Chicago

Best Community Reporting (video)

  • “Sentenced To Wait”; Deron Molen, Eric Ahola; WAND
  • “Chicago Stories: The Young Lords of Lincoln Park”; Tania Lindsay, Anna Gardner, Alicia Soller, David Fortney, Felix Mendez, Scott Holoubek, Anthony Fleming III, Shelley Spencer; WTTW  
  • “Muslim Americans Flex “Political Muscles” in 2024 Election”; Kane Farabaugh; Voice of America

Best Community Reporting (audio)

  • “The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’”; Tiara Hicks, Mehki Harris, Rasheed Harvey, Kamaria Noble, Jaquavis Swift, Sarah Geis, Audrey Petty, Erisa Apantaku; WBEZ Curious City
  • “The Chicago Housing Authority’s Failures And Rosenwald’s Rebirth”; Jon Hansen, Block Club Chicago Staff; Block Club Chicago
  • “100 Latina Birthdays: Season 2”; Juleyka Lantigua, Michelle Baker, Virginia Lora, Wendy Wei, Vicky Diaz-Camacho, Carmen Marquez, Francesca Matthews, Julia Binswanger; LWC Studios

Best Reporting on Environment/Climate Change

  • “Hotter heatwaves, higher cooling costs”; Adriana Perez; Chicago Tribune
  • “Carbon Pipeline Story”; Kim Chipman; Bloomberg News
  • “Rooting out Risk: Cicero’s Challenge to Build a Safe Inclusive Park”; Leslie Hurtado; Cicero Independiente

Best Political and Government Reporting (large print/online)

  • “Culture of Corruption”; Ray Long, Rick Pearson, Joe Mahr, Dan Petrella, Gregory Royal Pratt; Chicago Tribune
  • “Cook County assessor misclassifies hundreds of properties”; Alex Nitkin, A.D. Quig, Cam Rodriguez; Chicago Tribune, Illinois Answers Project
  • “The invisible toll of opioid overdoses on a generation of Black men in America”; Frank Main, Elvia Malagón, Erica Thompson, Josh Katz, Margot Sanger-Katz, Nick Thieme; Chicago Sun-Times, The Baltimore Banner, The New York Times

Best Political and Government Reporting (small or medium print/online)

  • “Becoming a judge in Cook County”; Maya Dukmasova; Injustice Watch
  • “14th Police District Council Grapples with Fierce Divisions”; Jim Daley; South Side Weekly
  • No third place

Best Political and Government Reporting (video)

  • “39: The Life and Legacy of Jimmy Carter”; Kane Farabaugh; Voice of America 
  • No second or third place 

Best Political and Government Reporting (audio)

  • “How a ‘big fan’ of Donald Trump gets along with immigrant neighbors in this diverse suburban strip mall”; Dan Mihalopoulos; WBEZ Chicago
  • No second or third place

Best Arts and Entertainment Reporting (large print/online)

  • “Union wave is picking up at Chicago, suburban libraries, cultural institutions”; Amy Yee; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Michael Phillips columns and reviews”; Michael Phillips; Chicago Tribune
  • No third place

Best Arts and Entertainment Reporting (small or medium print/online)

  • “Theater criticism”; Mary Wisniewski; Newcity
  • “Graffiti or street art? Evanston arrest sparks a debate”; Gay Riseborough; Evanston RoundTable
  • “‘Killers’ and Hollywood’s White Savior Syndrome”; Dann Gire; Daily Herald

Best Arts and Entertainment Reporting (video)

  • “Chicago Stories: Amusement Parks”; Rachel Pikelny, Anna Gardner, Ian Bertorelli, Michael Buhrow, Shuling Yong, Anthony Fleming III, Shelley Spencer; WTTW
  • “The Illusionist | A Conversation with Roger Deakins”; Jake Hamilton, Stewart Orlin; WFLD-TV
  • “Chicago Stories: House Music: A Cultural Revolution”; Barbara Allen, Gail Baker, Anna Gardner, Keisha Chavers, Alicia Soller, David Fortney, Joe Williams, Anthony Fleming III; WTTW

Best Arts and Entertainment Reporting (audio)

  • No winner

Best Sports Reporting (large print/online)

  • “Skepticism about NASCAR Chicago Street Race was once widespread, but its success parted the clouds”; Steve Greenberg; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Why does he get to save his job?”; Dan Wiederer; Chicago Tribune
  • No third place

Best Sports Reporting (small and medium print/online)

  • “The Valparaiso Brotherhood”; Paul Oren; The Victory Bell
  • No second or third place

Best Sports Reporting (video)

  • “Chicago Stories: The Black Sox Scandal”; Eddie Griffin, Michael Harvey, Anna Gardner, Lauren Drell, Patty Kaniff, Brendan Walsh, Anthony Fleming III, Shelley Spencer; WTTW  
  • No second or third place

Best Sports Reporting (audio)

  • “Laurence Holmes 1-on-1 with Mayor Brandon Johnson”; Mitch Rosen, Laurence Holmes, Ryan Porth, Chris Tannehill; WSCR-AM / 670 The Score
  • No second or third place

Best Reporting on Race and Diversity (large print/online)

  • “Despite public outcry about the use of traffic stops for low-level violations, records show they continue to be part of the Chicago Police Department’s crime-fighting strategy”; Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Amy Qin, Alden Loury, Alex Degman, Mian Li, Anna Savchenko, Tessa Weinberg; WBEZ Chicago
  • No second or third place

Best Reporting on Race and Diversity (small and medium print/online)

  • “Black and Unhoused in Chicago: How Housing Segregation Fueled a Homegrown Crisis”; Tacuma Roeback, Nicole Jeanine Johnson, Christa Carter-Williams; The Chicago Defender
  • “A West Side Story: How to Traumatize a Neighborhood”; Josh McGhee, Emeline Posner, Matt Kiefer; MindSite News
  • “Black seniors in Chicago face 50/50 odds of getting home loans to make improvements”; Tatiana Walk-Morris, Maia McDonald, Khadija Ahmed, Colin Boyle; Investigative Project on Race and Equity, Block Club Chicago

Best Reporting on Race and Diversity (video)

  • “Chicago Stories: When the West Side Burned”; Daniel Andries, John Owens, Anna Gardner, Tylen Elliott, Patty Kaniff, Eric Seals, Mary Pat Cross, Anthony Fleming III; WTTW
  • No second or third place

Best Reporting on Race and Diversity (audio)

  • “Residents of Chicago’s south suburbs deal with crushing tax increases”; Adora Namigadde, Alden Loury; WBEZ Chicago
  • “Roots and Roofs: Building Wealth Through Chicago’s Two-Flats”; Reema Saleh, Mary Hall, Judith McCray, Maurice Bisaillon, Nicole Nir, Will Jarvis; Change Agents: The Podcast
  • “100 Latina Birthdays: Season 2”; Juleyka Lantigua, Michelle Baker, Virginia Lora, Wendy Wei, Vicky Diaz-Camacho, Carmen Marquez, Francesca Mathews, Julia Binswanger; LWC Studios

Best Science and Technology Reporting

  • “Mount Baldy has been eating everything in its path. Can a new tactic slow it down?”; Joseph S. Pete; The Times of Northwest Indiana
  • “Chicago’s Archaeopteryx”; Nicole Cardos, Patty Wetli; WTTW News
  • “The intersection of motherhood and technology”; Angie Leventis Lourgos; Chicago Tribune

Best Investigative Reporting (large print/online)

  • “Inside Shrub Oak”; Jennifer Smith Richards, Jodi Cohen; ProPublica
  • “Medical Misconduct”; Lisa Schencker, Emily Hoerner; Chicago Tribune
  • “The invisible toll of opioid overdoses on a generation of Black men in America”; Frank Main, Elvia Malagón, Erica Thompson, Josh Katz, Margot Sanger-Katz, Nick Thieme; Chicago Sun-Times, The Baltimore Banner, The New York Times

Best Investigative Reporting (small and medium print/online)

  • “The Tenant Trap”; Maya Dukmasova, Alejandra Cancino; Injustice Watch
  • “Judicial residency investigation”; David Jackson, Kelly Garcia; Injustice Watch
  • “Strapped Down: Restraint Chairs in Illinois Jails”; Grace Hauck, Meredith Newman; Illinois Answers Project

Best Investigative Reporting (video)

  • “Dismissed: How Sex Crimes Disappear”; Staff NBC5 Investigates, Telemundo Investiga – NBC / Telemundo Chicago; NBC Chicago, Telemundo Chicago
  • “The Invisible Enemy”; Doug Wolfe, Eric Ahola, Lee Larkins; WAND

Best Reporting on Crime and Justice (large print/online)

  • “Many cameras. Little focus. Blurry results.”; Madison Hopkins, Joe Mahr; Chicago Tribune, Illinois Answers Project
  • “CTA’s high violent crime rate keeps away what’s needed to ward off crime: passengers”; Chip Mitchell, Alden Loury, Anna Savchenko, Amy Qin, Kate Grossman; WBEZ Chicago
  • No third place

Best Reporting on Crime and Justice (small and medium print/online)

  • “A West Side Story: How to Traumatize a Neighborhood”; Josh McGhee, Emeline Posner, Matt Kiefer; MindSite News
  • “Reporting on the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan”; Hannah Meisel; Capitol News Illinois
  • No third place

Best Reporting on Crime and Justice (video)

  • “Waiting for Grace: Incarcerated People Hope Pritzker Addresses More Petitions for Clemency”; Brandis Friedman; WTTW News
  • “Illinois Doesn’t Have Parole. A Group of Incarcerated Men is Working to Change That”; Brandis Friedman; WTTW News
  • “Chicago Stories: Al Capone’s Bloody Business”; Heidi Zersen, Anna Gardner, Marcy Marzuki, Alanna Schmelter, David Fortney, Brendan Walsh, Anthony Fleming III, Shelley Spencer; WTTW

Best Reporting on Crime and Justice (audio)

  • “The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’”; Tiara Hicks, Mehki Harris, Rasheed Harvey, Kamaria Noble, Jaquavis Swift, Sarah Geis, Audrey Petty, Erisa Apantaku; WBEZ Curious City
  • No second or third place

Best Education Reporting (large print/online)

  • “Mr. Duncan’s disciples”; Lauren FitzPatrick; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “No-Schoolers”; Molly Parker, Beth Hundsdorfer; Capitol News Illinois, ProPublica
  • “Inside Shrub Oak”; Jennifer Smith Richards, Jodi Cohen; ProPublica

Best Education Reporting (small and medium print/online)

  • “CPS Principal, Staff Stymied Police Investigation of Mass Shooting at Pilsen High School”; Peter Nickeas; Illinois Answers Project
  • “With No Chemistry Teacher, Chicago Student Teaches Her Own Class: ‘They Forgot About Us’”; Mina Bloom; Mina Bloom
  • “Top CPS Official Promoted Invention to Reduce Lead in School Drinking Water — Even as His Name Was on The Patent”; Cam Rodriguez, Jewél Jackson; Illinois Answers Project

Best Education Reporting (video)

  • “Silent Failures: The Struggle for Accountability in School Abuse Cases”; Alyssa Patrick, Eric Ahola; WAND News
  • “CPS Leadership Coverage”; WTTW News Team; WTTW News
  • “An Invitation to China”; Kane Farabaugh; Voice of America

Best Education Reporting (audio)

  • “CPS In The Spotlight”; Jon Hansen, Block Club Chicago Staff; Block Club Chicago
  • “Chicago Public Schools teachers say they were told by administrators to give migrant students passing grades”; Sylvia Snowden; WGN Radio
  • “Chicago’s selective enrollment schools”; Sarah Karp, Susie An, Kate Grossman; WBEZ Chicago

Best Business Reporting (large print/online)

  • “Apartment fees sock it to renters”; Elvia Malagón, Stephanie Zimmermann; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “Verbal abuse, a ‘sex-driven’ culture”; Talia Soglin, Lizzie Kane; Chicago Tribune
  • No third place

Best Business Reporting (small and medium print/online)

  • “Generative AI and the legal industry”; Victor Li, Matt Reynolds, Amanda Robert, Julianne Hill, Danielle Braff; ABA Journal
  • “Black seniors in Chicago face 50/50 odds of getting home loans to make improvements”; Tatiana Walk-Morris, Maia McDonald, Khadija Ahmed, Colin Boyle; Investigative Project on Race and Equity, Block Club Chicago
  • “Trans start-up founder seeking to improve lives of wheelchair users”; Lu Calzada; Windy City Times

Best Business Reporting (video)

  • “Chicago Stories: The Making of Playboy”; Peter Marks, Anna Gardner, Bianca Lozano, Brian Clark, Tim Boyd, Anthony Fleming III, Shelley Spencer; WTTW
  • “The Farming Economy and the 2024 Election”; Kane Farabaugh; Voice of America
  • No third place

Best Business Reporting (audio)

  • “Building a Green Chicago”; Wendy Wei, Iggy Monda, John Rudolph, Quincy Surasmith, Mia Warren, Julie Schwietert Collazo, Jocelyn Gonzales, Fareed Sajan; Feet in 2 Worlds
  • No second or third place

Best Feature Reporting Single Story/Episode (large print/online)

  • “Dr. Kathryn Anne Altonji, a new mother and rising star at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, has died at 34”; Mitch Dudek; Chicago Sun-Times
  • “She was a beautiful mother”; Megan Crepeau; Chicago Tribune
  • No third place

Best Feature Reporting Single Story/Episode (small and medium print/online)

  • “Most of Gary’s long-abandoned but ‘awe-inspiring’ City Methodist Church to be razed after decades of decay”; Joseph S. Pete; The Times of Northwest Indiana
  • “It doesn’t matter what it takes, I have to stay alive”; Amy Lavalley; Post-Tribune
  • “‘I Know What I’m Worth’: The Joys and Struggles of Chicago’s Migrant Go-Go Dancers”; Roger Fierro; City Bureau

Best Feature Reporting Single Story/Episode (video)

  • “Chicago Stories: Deadly Alliance: Leopold and Loeb”; Tania Lindsay, Anna Gardner, Alicia Soller, David Fortney, Brendan Walsh, Anthony Fleming III, Shelley Spencer; WTTW
  • “Chicago Mysteries”; Sean Keenehan, Geoffrey Baer, Matthew Shimmel, Joe Winston, Tim Boyd, Oral User, Shelley Spencer; WTTW
  • No third place

Best Feature Reporting Single Story/Episode (audio)

  • “The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’”; Tiara Hicks, Susie An; WBEZ Chicago, Curious City, The Invisible Institute
  • No second or third place

Best Feature Reporting Single Story/Episode (student)

  • “’It was our moment of blessing’: Migrant family finds a home with the help of a DePaul professor”; Cary Robbins, Alyssa N. Salcedo; La DePaulia
  • No second or third place

Best Feature Reporting Series (large print/online)

  • “Operation Purple Heart”; Christy Gutowski; Chicago Tribune
  • No second or third place

Best Feature Reporting Series (small and medium print/online)

  • “Silent Battles Series”; Alma Campos; MindSite News, palabra
  • “Migrant Labor in Chicago”; Sebastián Hidalgo, Abena Bediako, Erika Perez; City Bureau
  • “1933 Chicago World’s Fair Homes”; Joseph S. Pete; The Times of Northwest Indiana