Les Brownlee was the first African-American reporter for a downtown daily newspaper in Chicago, at the Daily News, and the first black TV reporter at a Chicago station. He coined “Eyewitness News” while at WLS-TV. He was the first black member of the Society of Professional Journalists and was president of the local SPJ chapter, the Chicago Headline Club from 1989-90. He was the first professor emeritus of Columbia College Chicago. He is in the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Chicago Headline Club offers intensive professional development programs each autumn because of Les. This fall, we will offer the second round of our Digital Media Workshops.
Suggested contribution for buffet and bar: $10 for adults, $5 for students. Proceeds will benefit the Chicago Headline Club Foundation. His autobiography will be for sale at the party-picnic.
Priscilla Ruth MacDougall is the daughter of famed Northwestern University journalism professor Curtis MacDougall. She still lives in the family home where she first met Les Brownlee when she was about four years old.
RSVPs are not necessary. For more details, prmacdougall@charter.net, 847-204-4238, or Susan S. Stevens, Headline Club president,susanstevens@aol.com, 312-733-1936.